Sophia Beck
Study programmes: Business Studies in Healthcare Management (BA) / Master of Advanced Management (MSc)
Employer: MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co. KG
Position: Project Manager Sustainability
For what reasons did you decide to study at HNU?
When I was looking for a suitable university of applied sciences, the innovative and modern appearance as well as the practical orientation of the HNU appealed to me directly. In addition, after graduating from school, I didn't know exactly which direction I wanted to take and where my interests and strengths lay. The HNU offers the optimal opportunity to find out exactly what influenced my decision through different focal points and specialisations.
What tips can you give young people who are looking for the right degree programme?
In my experience, it is completely normal to be unsure about your choice of degree programme. My tip is to get different practical experience, go into different areas of the company and try out new things. Choose a degree programme that allows for this diversity and don't let it put you off if a subject doesn't appeal to you directly.
Exhausting or child's play: What did your internship semester look like and what tasks did you take on?
I did not complete the practical semester during my Bachelor's degree in "Business Administration in the Health Sector" in the health sector like most people in my degree programme, but in industry. The reason for this was that I wanted to get to know another industry after an internship in a hospital. At that time, I was given the opportunity to gain practical experience at MULTIVAC, my current employer. I worked in the personnel development department and was allowed to participate in various projects and also take on responsibility. I would say that the practical semester at MULTIVAC led me to discover my strength in the area of project management. This time has significantly shaped my academic and professional orientation and I am very grateful for that.
What was your first job like and how did you become interested in it?
After completing my Master's degree, I started directly at MULTIVAC as a project manager in the Corporate Strategy department and took on responsibility for the topic of sustainability. Because I worked there as a student trainee during my Master's degree in addition to my practical semester and was then allowed to write my Master's thesis there, it was no longer an unfamiliar company and I skipped the "classic" application process.
Please describe your everyday working life. Which projects do you work on and which tasks do you particularly appreciate?
As a project manager in a new division, no two days are the same. My function can be described as a central interface to many other corporate divisions. As a result, I am responsible for coordinating and initiating various sustainability projects. Due to the wide range of tasks and the diversity, I lead various exchange and steering groups within the company and also represent MULTIVAC in external working groups with the aim of actively promoting sustainable development in the industry. The cooperation with different teams and departments is super varied. This also allows me personally to develop and also educate myself in new fields. I really appreciate the fact that I was given this professional opportunity directly after graduating to drive sustainable transformation and thus make a valuable contribution. The trust placed in my work is worth its weight in gold.
Which experiences from your studies at HNU have proven valuable in your professional life?
The Bachelor's degree and most recently the Master's degree with a focus on "Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability" at HNU were valuable for me from many points of view. The numerous group projects and the competence I gained from them to work successfully in a team help me today in the coordination of projects and in the cooperation with different people. Thanks to the opportunity to gain various practical experiences during my studies, both in other companies and as part of my participation in a DAAD funding programme in Kenya, I am able to use the know-how I have acquired in terms of dealing with different structures and processes to good effect in my current activities.
How would you complete the following sentence beginning?
HNU... "...paved the way for my professional future."
