BWL - International Business

Sebastian Kohrmann

IB03A

Current position: Board spokesman (Vorstandssprecher), EDEKA Unternehmensgruppe Nordbayern-Sachsen-Thüringen

What did you like about your International Business studies in particular?

The dual study structure was ideal for a career in the retail environment. I was able to gain initial management experience during the practical phases and learn about the operative processes from the bottom up. On the other hand, I was able to lay a solid foundation of knowledge during the study phases.

Maximilian Englisch

IB05A

Current position: Global Vice President of Sales, WALDNER Group | Managing Director, Waldner Pte Ltd, Singapore

What did you like about your International Business studies in particular?

I liked the guest lecturers the best. Getting real life experience from seasoned professionals made the curriculum more tangible and provided a good reference. In fact, I liked it so much that I became a lecturer at DHBW in Stuttgart for three years before I left Germany for China in 2013.

David Kehler

IB06A

Current position: Director of Sales Germany, Regal Rexnord

What did you like about your International Business studies in particular?

Besides our great campus I enjoyed the internationality of my studies. A lot of my fellow co-students came from all over the world. We established strong ties that endure until today and form a great part of my network. The guest lecturers being working professionals and the combination of theory and reality made the whole studies a great experience!

Juliane Lange

IB06B – IB, Change Management

Current position: Managing Director, Wuerth IT China

What did you like about your International Business studies in particular?

I still look back and remember the practical approach in our studies. Looking back, I especially enjoyed the variety of case studies we have read and worked on. To read and feel what other companies went through and how they managed or in some cases not managed the challenges in their particular business was always an exciting part of the classes.

Thomas Deschle

IB07B

Current position: Head of Marketing, BASS GmbH & Co. KG

What did you like about your International Business studies in particular?

I really enjoyed my time at the DHBW. In the three years I met many inspirational and wonderful people, both among my fellow students and the lecturers. The opportunity to learn from international professionals with a practical focus is unique. I feel fortunate of being in a position where I can apply and rely on the knowledge gained in the IB studies, e.g. at the foundation of a subsidiary in Shanghai.

Melanie Zipf-Landwehr

IB07B

Current position: Assistant of the Executive Management (President), Robert Bosch GmbH / Lecturer in Management Accounting, DHBW Mosbach

What did you like about your International Business studies in particular?

When I think back to my time as student of International Business, there are three good things which come up to my mind. First, the regular change between theory and practice. There was a great balance between reading academic literature and taking responsibility for hands-on projects at work. Second, an international study program comes along with international experiences. Full of good memories, I had the opportunity to spend a theoretical semester in the US and a practical phase in Romania. Last but not least, I really enjoyed the people around me. During the three years of studies, I met highly qualified professors, great colleagues as well as friends for life. By looking back at my International Business studies from a distance, I can say with a certainty: I would do it again!

Dr. Helen Schropp

IB07C

Current position: Senior Vice Presidentin Top Talent Management & Strategic Workforce Planning, Schaeffler

What did you like about your International Business studies in particular?

The IB studies were a unique opportunity to dive into both professional and academic training right after graduation. Naturally, one advantage is that you can put what you study directly into practice. Moreover, for me personally, the arrangement of the courses - focused and bundled in one piece - with internationally renowned lecturers - was an efficient format to intensely engage with specific topics. Finally, the smaller size of the courses led to a close relationship with my fellow students - networks that I still maintain today.

Prof. Dr. Heiko Ströbele

IB07C

Current position: Professor (Controlling), Hochschule Albstadt-Sigmaringen

What did you like about your International Business studies in particular?

What I liked most about my IB studies is the exceptional combination of studying in small groups, that become close communities and friends for lifetime, with the international background of incoming students from all over the world and the chance to spend a semester abroad at one of the countless partner universities.

Martin Kroenig

IB08A

Current position: Director, Schwarz Asia Pacific Sourcing Ltd., Hong Kong

What did you like about your International Business studies in particular?

• Professors / Lectures from around the world with practical experience
• Intense block teaching with focus on certain topics
• Semester abroad (Singapore in my case, helpful in applying for a job in Asia)
• Foreign language (In my case Spanish, enabled me moving to Spain after finishing the studies)

Dr. Christina Brunner (geb. Wiedemann)

IB08B

Current position: Project manager China product management for MEB platform, AUDI AG; Dozentin / Prüferin

What did you like about your International Business studies in particular?

Perfect combination of theory and practice – From the beginning, my studies at DHBW lay the foundations for my professional career with the combination of excellent teaching as well as valuable work experience. My semester in Singapore strengthened my intercultural competences and skills needed today in my daily business with China. Additionally, the spirit between the students was great and I made amazing life-long friends. I am very happy give back to DHBW by sharing my experience and expertise.

Dr. Jonas van Elten

IB08B

Current position: Director | Leiter HGB-Desk | Wirtschaftsprüfer (Certified Public Accountant), Mazars

What did you like about your International Business studies in particular?

I particularly profited from the international, cross-cultural education and lectures. The practice-based training prepares students well for the workplace and their careers in industry. 

Nico Haller

IB09C

Current position: Director at KKR & Co. Inc., Board Member/Observer

What did you like about your International Business studies in particular?

In my opinion, studying at DHBW had three main advantages compared to studying at a normal university. Firstly, due to the small class size of around 20 students, the quality of the lectures was outstanding, and the combination of theory and practical examples made it very easy to understand new concepts. Secondly, I was able to create a valuable network of like-minded and ambitious people, many of whom I’m still friends with. Lastly, the international angle with professors from all over the world provided me with a global perspective, which I benefitted from as I went on to pursue an international career. My IB studies at DHBW were certainly a door opener in many respects, and I can only recommend it to anyone who is interested in combining theory with practice.

Maximilian Vogt

IB09C

Current position: Corporate Director Buying, ALDI SÜD

What did you like about your International Business studies in particular?

Beside of a sophisticated dual study concept I still benefit from the knowledge gained from fantastic, international lecturers. Due to small class sizes I got to know extraordinary people, which I am still friends with. The DHBW program balances soft and hard skill courses leading to a holistic skill set. Additionally, I was able to afford a semester abroad in UK (London) based on the monthly salary, which is paid not only in the practical but also in the theoretical phases. Otherwise, I would not have been able to pay for that unique experience. Bearing this in mind, I would like to thank the DHBW and ALDI SÜD as an amazing employer.

Kathrin Lauber

IB11A

Current position: Senior Treasury Analyst, Google

What did you like about your International Business studies in particular?

I was hesitant to start the program at DHBW, questioning like many in that situation, if it was the right path for me. Looking back at my time at DHBW now, I do appreciate that many of the skills that were taught actually translate into my daily job. Besides the language skills which enabled me to work in Spain, and facilitated the transition to my current position in the US, the International Business, Finance, and Leadership classes, combined with some great Professors and a very supportive company, have gotten me to where I am today. And I’m grateful for the path this challenge has led me on.

Philipp Herlein

IB12A

Current position: General Manager | Head of Global Automotive Aftermarket BU, SKF Group

What did you like about your International Business studies in particular?

The International Business Program has given me a great exposure on academic and practical business context with a truly global view. Through the terms abroad both at Oregon State University as well as the assignments for SKF in three different continents I had the lucky chance to bring the case-oriented studies of the program into application on real-world problems and challenges. This has been something I am benefitting from a lifetime, especially in my today´s work areas of consulting and venturing.

Simon Barner

IB12B

Current position: Head of Omnichannel Project / Business Development, Würth Group

What did you like about your International Business studies in particular?

Studying International Business at DHBW in Bad Mergentheim was providing me the perfect foundation and prepared me extensively for an international role in the Würth Group. Completed by two phases abroad I could gain fruitful international experience already during my bachelor degree. Besides that, I could meet great people from various backgrounds during the three years with whom I am still in contact these days. In retrospect, I am convinced that the unique components of the International Business program are a great package to start into a professional career.

Alexander Klein

IB13II

Current position: Senior Product Manager Building Automation, Schneider Electric

What did you like about your International Business studies in particular?

I really enjoyed the experience of combining theory and practice from day one, facilitated by the dual study concept at DHBW. In addition, the IB program provided multiple opportunities to gain international experience at an early stage. For example by running a diverse program to study abroad and by offering exciting course programs, taught by international lecturers.

Margaretha Henrich

IB14I

Current position: Corporate Risk Manager, The Berner Group

What did you like about your International Business studies in particular?

I was lucky to be part of the newly established double degree program in cooperation with the Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga (UNAB) in Colombia during my last year of studies. I hadn’t had any contact with the Spanish language prior to the starting point of my studies at DHBW, so I was a little anxious at first but mostly looking forward to this opportunity. Among the many experiences I gained during my stay are various that do not only benefit my day-to-day work and boosted my confidence, but also influenced my perspective on the world and will stay with me for a lifetime.

Maria Beck

IB15C

Current position: Regional Sales Manager (Regionalverkaufsleiterin), ALDI SÜD

What did you like about your International Business studies in particular?

I was excited about the great opportunity of international exchange through students and lecturers. In addition to that, I was able to make my studies even more exciting through my stay abroad in South Korea.

Marius Helmer

IB15C

Current position: Leitung Ausbildung und Hochschulmarketing / Young Talent Acquisition, Würth Group

What did you like about your International Business studies in particular?

When looking back on those exciting and intense three years studying International Business, I first and foremost think of the people I met at DHBW in Bad Mergentheim, at Nanyang Polytechnic in Singapore and at Würth in Künzelsau, Oslo and some more places. I was able to build professional networks and I have made friends. We were taught within small groups and different formats – from lectures and papers over group projects and presentations to exams. Thanks to great support from certain professors at DHBW as well as HR and colleagues at Würth I had the opportunity to discover my personal strengths, work on them and develop further. Combined, my studies and work experience provided a valuable basis for the next years to come.

Hannah Clemens

IB16D

Current position: Marketing Manager DACH, Champion Europe Group

What did you like about your International Business studies in particular?

The small sizes of the courses, interaction with the professors and not only being "a number" as in a usual university, projects not only theory, during the 5/6 Semester the focus courses (electives), in my case the International Marketing courses, well-structured when it comes to the timetable