Andrea Mohnsame
Years at Spencer Stuart: 2017-2019, 2023-present
Consultant and Managing Director, Frankfurt
For some, leaving Spencer Stuart marks the beginning of an entirely new chapter. For others, it creates the perspective needed to see the firm, and themselves, in a new way. After stepping away to take on a new role leading global transformation work, Andrea Mohnsame found that returning to Spencer Stuart was not about going back to something familiar. It was about stepping into a new role, a new sector and a renewed sense of purpose.
In conversation, Andrea reflects on what drew her back, what continues to energize her work and why staying calm through uncertainty may be one of the most valuable lessons a career can teach.
Leading transformation outside the firm
After leaving Spencer Stuart, Andrea joined Bauer Media Group, a family-owned international media company headquartered in Hamburg. During nearly four years there, she led major global transformation initiatives focused on digitalization and cultural change.
At the time, Bauer generated approximately €2 billion in revenue and employed around 15,000 people across multiple markets. It was an exciting opportunity to help modernize the organization while preserving the entrepreneurial spirit and strong family-business culture that made it distinctive.
Returning to Spencer Stuart in a new way
By the time she left Bauer Media, Andrea felt she had accomplished what she had set out to do. Her initial plan was to move back into a corporate leadership role, but conversations with former Spencer Stuart colleagues opened up another possibility: returning to the firm.
What made the opportunity especially compelling was that it was not a return to the same role she had held before. Rather than rejoining the Leadership Advisory Practice, Andrea came back as a Search Consultant focused on healthcare, a sector she finds both fascinating and deeply impactful. Today, she leads executive search and leadership advisory projects for healthcare and especially MedTech clients. Since the beginning of this year, Andrea has also served as Managing Director for Germany and Austria (DA Plex), contributing not only to client work but also to the continued development of the firm’s business and culture across the region.
The energy of autonomy, connection and purpose
What Andrea finds most rewarding about Spencer Stuart is the unique combination of entrepreneurial freedom and belonging to something larger than yourself. Consultants have a great deal of autonomy and personal responsibility, yet they are also part of a truly global organization with exceptional colleagues and a shared purpose.
She enjoys building long-term client relationships, collaborating with colleagues across countries and practices and engaging with candidates whose personal and professional journeys are often fascinating. Every conversation offers a new perspective on leadership and human motivation. Andrea also values the opportunity to help shape the future of the Germany and Austria business.
A simple invitation for alumni considering a return
Andrea’s advice to former employees thinking about returning is simple: “Talk to me,” she says.
She encourages anyone considering a return to Spencer Stuart to reflect on what made them leave in the first place. Organizations evolve, people change and circumstances shift. The reasons that led someone to leave several years ago may no longer exist or may exist in a very different form. Andrea says that Spencer Stuart today is not the same firm it was when she first joined, and she is not the same, either. Returning can be a wonderful opportunity if there is alignment between what someone is looking for and what the firm has become. The best way to find out, Andrea says, is to have an open conversation.
Learning to stay calm through career cycles
One lesson Andrea wishes she had learned earlier in her career is to stay calm when things become difficult. At various points in a career, challenges can feel endless or opportunities can seem far away. With experience, however, she has learned that most situations are temporary. There are cycles in business and in life. Not every setback requires immediate action, and not every problem can be solved through sheer effort.
Sometimes, the best approach is to remain patient, maintain perspective and trust that better times will come again. Looking back, Andrea believes a little more calmness and a little less impatience would have helped her on many occasions.
Finding balance and purpose
Outside of work, Andrea’s favorite time is spent with her husband, family and friends. She enjoys being active and spending as much time outdoors as possible. Running, sailing, biking and simply being in nature help her recharge and maintain balance.
Andrea deeply values the belief that meaning, responsibility and personal choice sit at the heart of a fulfilled life. This philosophy has shaped the way she thinks about leadership, reminding her that people are most energized when they understand the purpose behind their work and see their values reflected in everyday actions.
For Andrea, this perspective is more than an abstract idea. It is a practical guide for how to lead, work and live with purpose and a sense of responsibility to help others make meaningful contributions and realize their potential.