Nach den Begrüßungsworten von Wolfgang Güttel, Dean der TU Wien Academy, und Jasmin Gründling-Riener, Vizerektorin für Lehre der TU Wien, führten Wolfgang Güttel, Petra Aigner (Head of Operations Management, Corporate Impact Solutions & Services), Bob Martens (Head of Real Estate & Building Programs) und Katrin Henner (Head of Management & Technology Area) durch den Abend. Das abwechslungsreiche Programm bot neben spannenden Einblicken in die Entwicklung der Academy auch inspirierende Impulse für die Zukunft des lebenslangen Lernens.

The evening opened with welcoming remarks by Wolfgang Güttel, Dean of the TU Wien Academy, and Jasmin Gründling-Riener, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs at TU Wien. Presentations by Wolfgang Güttel, Petra Aigner (Head of Operations Management, Corporate Impact Solutions & Services), Bob Martens (Head of Real Estate & Building Programs), and Katrin Henner (Head of Management & Technology Area) offered inspiring insights into the Academy’s development and its future direction in lifelong learning.

Since its founding in 2005, the TU Wien Academy has been the central hub for postgraduate education at TU Wien. More than 2,700 alumni from 101 nations and 556 experts from academia and practice have shaped the Academy’s success story over the past two decades.

The anniversary keynote drew an impressive line from major turning points of recent history – from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the rise of the internet and the digital transformation. One key takeaway was clear: to shape the future, we must learn from the past – and embrace courage, vision, and a lifelong willingness to learn as essential companions.

Core topics of the evening included innovation, leadership, change, and management – disciplines that have defined the TU Wien Academy’s identity since its beginnings. The keynote emphasized that leadership goes far beyond management: true leadership means providing orientation, creating meaning, and guiding people through times of transformation.

With a forward-looking perspective, the keynote focused on four essential dimensions shaping learning and leadership in the 21st century:

• People: Striking the right balance between humans and technology
• Nature: Embedding sustainability and responsibility into long-term success
• Society: Embracing openness, resilience, and international collaboration
• Technology: Seeing digitalization as both opportunity and challenge

At the networking reception held at TUtheSky, guests enjoyed lively exchanges, reconnecting with colleagues and celebrating together — all against the stunning backdrop of Vienna’s skyline. 20 years of TU Wien Academy stand for continuous growth, forward-thinking, and the connection between technology, business, and leadership.

Or, as one alumnus put it perfectly:
“The future doesn’t just happen – it’s created.”

The TU Wien Academy remains committed to empowering professionals and leaders to drive meaningful change and make a lasting impact in the decades to come.