Student Talk | Alexander Tenié

What distinguishes the Executive MBA Technology Management at RWTH Business School? What are the content highlights and what do you take away for yourself personally and professionally? Dr. Alexander Tenié, currently in his second semester, answers all these questions and more.

Please briefly introduce yourself and your role in the company. What challenges do you face in your daily work?

After completing my studies and doctorate in Materials Engineering, I took over the group management of the coating development at Mubea TRB GmbH in October 2017. My team handles development projects, customer enquiries and damage cases in the area of surface technology for car body components. Particularly in the field of electromobility, we encounter interesting new issues whose solutions have to be reconciled technically, economically and sustainably.

What made you decide to do an Executive MBA programme?

Due to my purely technical education, I wanted to expand my knowledge with business management skills in order to be somewhat more generalist. While searching for opportunities, I came across various MBA programmes that also teach sought-after management skills in addition to the business administration modules. This combination immediately appealed to me, as I am aiming for a career in middle to senior management in the long term. The Executive MBA programmes were particularly interesting for my profile because the average work experience, age and positions of fellow students were similar to mine.

Why did you choose the Executive MBA Technology Management at RWTH Business School?

The decision in favour of RWTH Business School was made relatively quickly, as I was able to discover three significant advantages for myself:

1. Through my previous studies at RWTH Aachen University, I was already familiar with the excellent teaching and the blended learning concepts. This allows me to prepare for the individual modules flexibly and optimally alongside my daily work and to benefit from the high quality of the teaching concept
2. I see my future in industry or manufacturing and would like to optimally combine my good technical understanding with management skills. Due to the leading position of RWTH Aachen University in both technical and economic fields, this is not possible at any other university as it is at the RWTH Business School. The focus on technology management, therefore, appealed to me immediately.
3. Due to the comparatively small group of students from different industries with a wide range of professional experience, I was hoping for a good network, many exciting discussions and a collegial to even friendly relationship among each other – I was not disappointed!

What are the highlights of your programme so far, or what are you particularly looking forward to?

I can’t give a general answer to this question, because each module has its own charm. Modules like “Strategy”, in which you analyse various business cases, were extremely entertaining and exciting, as were the topics “Accounting” and “Finance”, behind which there is so much more than just mathematics. I also really enjoyed looking beyond my everyday work life into the “Marketing” module. Now I am looking forward to the different “Ecosystems” in Madrid and Cambridge, while I am eagerly awaiting the “Enterprise Simulation”, in which we can apply and deepen everything we have learned at the end.

Work, family and MBA – how can these three areas be reconciled?

The blended learning concept coupled with the attendance phases makes it possible to optimally combine the study programme with work, family and hobbies if you bring a certain degree of self-organisation. Of course, you must be prepared to invest some free time and weekends, but the time passes surprisingly quickly. During the attendance phases, the subject matter is deepened considerably in two to three days on-site, and the module ends with an exam. This way, you can mentally “tick off” the module and have time off until the start of the next module to fulfil your other obligations. For me and my situation, this is a very well-functioning concept.

To what extent would you say does the Executive MBA allow you to grow personally?

I am a rather introverted and focused person and had to leave my comfort zone a few times during the programme. However, it quickly turned out that mainly group interaction and discussions challenge and encourage creativity and other points of view. Once again, this showed me that some barriers only exist in the mind and that crossing them is profitable in most cases but always worthwhile.

What do you take away from this programme for yourself and your professional future?

On the one hand, I acquired many professional skills that will help me understand operational contexts better and make sensible decisions. But furthermore, I have also learned what a motivated team is capable of achieving. After all, it is always the people who, with the right resources and motivation, can rise above themselves and solve complex tasks together.

The Executive MBA at RWTH Business School in one word?

Enriching.