From Software Developer to Vice President Data & Insights

October 17, 2019

What an MBA can do for a corporate career

Can you, please, share with us your career development until now? What stages in your life have had the greatest impact on you and why?

After starting my career as a software developer (at Frequentis), I was looking for a challenge in management consulting relatively quickly. After more than 10 years with Accenture and KPMG (with a stopover at A1 Telekom), I joined Magenta Telekom this September as Vice President Data & Insights.

I was able to gain indispensable experience in every stage of my career. The combination of different perspectives, requirements and challenges have left a lasting impression on me, including:

• Accenture: most intensive travel activity and major international projects

• A1 Telekom: leadership in a line organization of a sub-national company

• KPMG: a broad spectrum of challenging projects

Did you originally want to pursue a different career? If so, what made you change your plans?

In kindergarten, I wanted to become a robber - at least that's what I was told. Fortunately, this did not happen. Also, I had to give up my attempt to become a professional football player because my skills just didn’t make the cut.

What was your greatest professional/personal success?

There may have been some projects, which are real success stories - but the greatest success for me is to have achieved a balance between my career moves, personal development and family.

What was your biggest challenge?

As a very ambitious and determined person, I first had to learn that professional life is not a sprint but a marathon. A little more patience and calmness makes the journey towards the goal not only easier but also definitely more fulfilling.

What were the 3 most important experiences in your life that brought you to where you are now?

1. The happiness of having experienced support and security in the family

2. The many intensive years as a consultant (constantly new customers and projects requires you to constantly develop)

3. The birth of my children (that changes pretty much everything)

When you think of the most talented high potential in your company, what 3 pieces of advice would you give him/her to live a successful and fulfilling life?

1. Do what you really enjoy, then success and satisfaction (mostly) come automatically

2. Leave your comfort zone regularly

3. A career is not a sprint, it's a marathon. Have a goal in mind, train/learn constantly and  allocate use your energy wisely.

Using just 5 words, how would your team describe you as a leader?

Integrative, ambitious, down-to-earth, communicative, team player

What has changed in your career because of your MBA degree?

After the Global Executive MBA, I finally took the step out of consulting and went into industry. This program gave me the almost unique opportunity to immerse myself in numerous subject areas with which I had only little contact so far (e.g. financial accounting, supply chain). In my position as VP Data & Insights, I have to have exactly this comprehensive understanding of all business areas in order to be able to serve all stakeholders.

As far as the workload is concerned, how did you manage an MBA next to a demanding job and your family life?

The most important aspect is to have an understanding and supportive partner. Without this help, it would have been impossible. With regard to my children, I took care to plan the little available time together as well as possible and to use it intensively.

What do you consider a “great luxury”?

To have time for my family and my hobbies and to live in a safe country like Austria. I became aware of this fact in particular during my MBA study trips to Asia and South America.

What was the last book or movie you really enjoyed?

Die Angst, dein bester Freund (English: Fear, your best friend) by Alexander Huber; Game of Thrones

If you could change places with anyone for a day, who would it be?

Alexander Ovetschkin (Russian hockey player)