Company & Position: OMV Downstream GmbH, Contract Manager Logistics Downstream

Education: Master of International Business Studies (University of Vienna)

Why did you choose this MBA program?

Logistics and mobility are in a fundamental phase of change. This represents an enormous challenge for all those involved, including OMV.  In my opinion, the "Mobility Transformation" MBA program at the TU Wien is tailor-made for my task and the decisions I am preparing for the future, in terms of my role and in line with OMV's needs.

What do you personally expect from the MBA program? What goals would you like to achieve with the MBA?

Participating in this program motivates me to proactively seek the latest knowledge and consistently work on my weaknesses.  I am very grateful and consider it a great honor to get the chance to meet so many inspiring people by attending this program and participate in various interesting discussions, be it technical or personal.  

What would you like to pass on to your MBA colleagues and future students?

The way is the goal and never lose sight of the goal - am I doing something right or am I doing the right thing - from my point of view, from the point of view of my environment and what impact it has on our society and to ask this question again and again.  

If you build on continuous further training and if you argument with the new social and technological circumstances, you have a different view on the future developments and change with confidence. Thus you are able to have a more favorable starting position in life, control your desired direction and help shape the future. As Mr. Darwin said; "It is not the strongest that survives, nor the most intelligent, but rather the one most willing to change."

How do you manage the balancing act between career, further education and private life?

The modular design of the MBA program is very easy to integrate into everyday work and it is almost like an active vacation with so many nice and inspiring people to explore new approaches. After each module I am charged with so much positive energy that I enjoy working even more. Further I can test my insights in my private as well as professional environment and pass on the knowledge. 

Company & Position: Ribbon Biolabs GmbH | Chief Technology Officer & Co - Managing Director

Education: Ph.D. / Dr. rer. nat. in Molecular Biology

Why did you choose this MBA program?

Overall, I am driven by the motivation to contribute to the common good of a knowledge and technology-based society. Having considered an MBA program for quite some time, now in 2021 was the right time to tackle an MBA. Continuous personal as well as professional development is important to me. My current professional role as CTO of Ribbon Biolabs GmbH now offers the ideal framework to further my personal development through an MBA in Strategic Management & Technology in order to be able to support the successful growth of the young company in the best possible way.

What makes studying at the TU Wien special?

An MBA program with the possibility of interaction with fellow students also on site combined with the focus on "Management & Technology", i.e. the integration of the technology aspect into the management agenda of the program differentiated this program of the TU Wien as particularly suitable for me.

What do you personally expect from the MBA program? What goals would you like to achieve with the MBA?

Professional responsibility and the goal to successfully bring a strong innovation to market with Ribbon Biolabs are challenging especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The journey through this MBA program is designed to support me with additional necessary skills, tools and experiences as well as by expanding my relevant professional network to meet this challenge and the associated personal and professional development.

What would you like to pass on to your MBA colleagues and future students?

Positive thinking, perseverance, and a cosmopolitan and inclusive attitude with openness to new things are important to me, and essential in the pursuit of meaningful professional activity and associated personal development and realization.

How do you manage the balancing act between career, further education and private life?

The above-mentioned perseverance, good time management combined with efficiency, as well as the openness and flexibility to go new ways, make it possible to always master new challenges.

Company & Position: Magna Powertrain, Expert E-Motor Design Engineer

Education: Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering (PhD Eng Eletrical), University of Stellenbosch

Why did you choose this MBA program?

When considering different MBA courses, I was looking for something that would both help me grow in the industry I am currently working in, and in my personal life. I selected the program because of its specific specialisation in the automotive industry, and its detailed training modules.

What makes studying at the TU Wien special?

It makes me proud to form a small part of the history and tradition of TU Wien. The old buildings and architecture really inspire me when I consider the multiple scholars and academics that passed through the halls.

What do you personally expect from the MBA program? What goals would you like to achieve with the MBA?

I expect to grow into a more effective leader, not only in leading others, but also myself. My goal is to learn new tools and techniques to effectively navigate the complex world of leadership, and to be able to effectively apply these tools and techniques to reflect on complex situations, and systematically solve them.

What would you like to pass on to your MBA colleagues and future students?

It is essential to consider your perspective and motivation when embarking on a MBA journey. The program should not be viewed as an end to a means to advance in a career or financially. It should be viewed as a lifelong journey into personal introspection and growth. Only with this motivation and mindset will you be able to maximize your potential and personal growth.

How do you manage the balancing act between career, further education and private life?

In all honesty, it is very challenging to keep the balance. It requires careful planning, dedication, discipline and the support of those around you. It also requires prioritisation around what is important; work, family, education and health. As long as you are willing to compromise on the usual distractions that do not fall under any of these four critical categories, you should have no problem in maintaining the balance.

Company & Position: Soma Reality GmbH, Founder & Managing Director; Biomedical Advisor LuftLift (Exit 2021)

Education: BSc Biomedical Engineering / Neural Engineering

Why did you choose this MBA program?

In my role as Managing Director, I still have a lot to learn. An MBA in Innovation will help me learn important methods to establish my company as an innovation leader in the long run. With a focus on managing technical innovation, TU Wien was a clear choice.

What do you personally expect from the MBA program? What goals would you like to achieve with the MBA?

Practical case studies that enable me to gain a better understanding of different management and business management methods. I expect a close exchange with my fellow students and mentors.

What would you like to pass on to your MBA colleagues and future students?

I look forward to the collaborative exchange and joint projects.

How do you manage the balancing act between career, education and private life?

It is important to proactively schedule time each week for education. This allows one to not get into a time crunch and give the MBA the attention it needs.

Company & Position: Thermo Fisher Scientific | Service technician in the field

Education: Dipl.-Ing.ⁱⁿ in Technical Chemistry, TU Wien

Why did you choose this MBA program?

For quite some time I wanted to learn something new and broaden my knowledge. I began taking small e-learning courses in Project Management at our in-house training platform and as my skills expanded, so did my interest. After gaining my first leadership experiences and taking part in a global change project in 2020, I intensified my search for a suitable continuing professional development. At first I was looking at training courses in Project Management, but I finally started to search for something that offered basics in business administration and included Change Management as a major part. That way I found the MBA program “Digital Transformation & Change Management”. It was the perfect fit!

What do you personally expect from the MBA program? What goals would you like to achieve with the MBA?

I hope to get equipped with a versatile tool case to be able to respond to various leadership challenges in an effective way. Coming from a technical background I currently lack business knowledge and want to build a good foundation for my personal development and the next steps on my career path.

What would you like to pass on to your MBA colleagues and future students?

After getting to know each other, I would like to thank my current fellow students for the excellent cooperation so far. I appreciate the exchange between the different personalities coming from different backgrounds.

It helps to hear that other people working in other companies in very different industries are nevertheless faced with the same challenges and struggle with the same problems. Often one has the impression that one is stuck and thinks that this may be due to the company model. The discussions with colleagues, however, showed that this is completely independent of the area in which the respective company is active. Some things are the same everywhere...

The journey so far has already changed the way I look at decisions from top management and the way I approach certain tasks and decisions myself. I can only encourage others to apply for the program. There is a lot of experience to gain personally that will help you no matter where life takes you.

How do you manage the balancing act between career, further education and private life?

The structure of the MBA program helps to manage time distribution between all personal areas. Work-life balance is a periodical topic and I think it can always be improved. On the other hand, one “long weekend”, which I like to call it, every month can be taken off easy enough. Those weekends, although having an educational agenda, sometimes feel like a vacation of the everyday life. You spend time with like-minded people who want to develop themselves and work towards the same goal. After every module I reflect on the insights I gained and every time I had something to take home. It is not only a valuable experience for my professional self, but also teaches me a lot about myself in general. Time invested in personal development is well invested time.