New at HNU: Prof. Dr. Jo­hannes von Gehlen

I grew up in a traditional family business in the third generation - I started working at the age of 14.  Then it was off to the big wide world: a year in South Africa (civilian service), a few months in Spain, half a year in South America during my psychology studies, a year in California during my dissertation. I did experimental research in the field of cognitive psychology. My topic was attention processes, which fascinated me then as they do today. Professionally, after gaining some experience, I started my own business as a systemic consultant in 2018. My focus is lifelong learning and the topic of learning culture development. I was also a freelance lecturer and later a part-time professor at a private university.

As far as my research is concerned, attention is the most valuable resource in the world today. Companies invest billions to bind "users" to screens, products or services. So how do we focus on the essentials? What conditions must companies create so that employees can work with concentration and focus? And how does lifelong learning work in organizations in this VUCA world full of information?
In teaching, I specialize in general psychology and biopsychology, both of which I enjoy very much. I am currently also building up a focus on business psychology in the Business Administration degree program.

During my doctorate, I had a flatmate who sold chocolate to luxury hotels. She was the best salesperson in her company in Europe. One day I asked her what motivates her. She said she enjoyed the whole process of the sales pitch from start to finish.
I feel the same way about teaching. It's the process of imparting knowledge itself that motivates me. I'm constantly thinking of new ways to develop my content didactically or in terms of content, trying out new ideas, failing regularly and trying something else again until something works really well.

I hope that, in addition to specialist knowledge, skills such as self-reflection, authenticity and self-efficacy will also be developed.

I have the feeling that I arrived quickly. This was not least due to colleagues and employees who made it easy for me to get started.

I actually applied because HNU is simply closer to my home in Kempten than my previous place of work in Munich. When I came to HNU for the first time for a trial course, I was thrilled: a modern building with good facilities (I've been to other universities) in green surroundings. I particularly like the park next door and when I found out that there was an Africa Institute, it was a perfect fit.

I like to move between gardening and crypto or derivatives trading, trips to Africa and cooking evenings at home with friends.