Students - HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management

18 Alumni
Interview
Ulrike Friedrich
On the path to success
After receiving her HHL Diploma, Ulrike
Friedrich (K3) joined the IT consulting company
CSC Ploenzke. After two years, she
moved to Eurohypo Systems GmbH as an
SAP consultant and software developer. At
the end of 2008, the company was integrated
into Commerzbank AG, where she is
now working in the finance architecture environment
of the IT department in customer
management.
HHL Homecoming 2009
On the third weekend of October, HHL alumni
celebrated their traditional Homecoming. It was
a fun-filled three-day event in which 52 alumni
and their guests from 18 classes participated.
Friedhelm Wachs (Chairman of HHL Alumni e. V.)
sees the “fostering of growth of our
members and of HHL” as the main goal.
“This year’s Homecoming was again a
tremendous forum for meeting old friends,
making new contacts and for business.”
Highlights included a special get-together
of K3 and K4 to celebrate their 10 th graduation
anniversary, a reception at HHL hosted by Dean
Professor Dr. Hans Wiesmeth, and a tour of the
Porsche facilities to see the new Panamera
production line. Twenty-one current HHL
students were invited to join the graduates in an
effort to connect the “old” Diploma classes with
HHL news: How did your studies at HHL
prepare you for your career?
During my studies at HHL, I learned the
basic skills for being successful in my
present job. Even though I had to learn the
specific IT know-how on the job, HHL
taught me how to solve problems
effectively, how to work in small teams and
how to handle high work loads. In the
course of my studies I gained a good idea
of how the consulting profession might
work.
HHL news: What does your current job
involve?
As a business analyst and project manager
in Commerzbank’s IT department, I’m
involved in implementing an SAP-based
finance and accounting platform for the
new integrated bank. In this project, I am
responsible for coordinating the internal and
external development engineers in the
software implementing team. As an SAP
specialist, I work on the IT side, but my
the students from the “new” MBA and M.Sc.
classes. Julia Lichtenberg (K4) on Homecoming
2009: “The number of attendees from the
anniversary classes was small but nice.
Our son Valentin (4 months) immediately bonded
with the alumni and current HHL students.
It seems like he is enjoying HHL as well – the
next generation of academics is guaranteed!”
HHL staff and professors were present to
catch up with everyone during the evening’s
Alumni Dinner. While the intended tour of HHL
Executive on Saturday did not take place due to
a long night out on the town enjoyed by many
alumni (just like in the good old days), a brunch
on Sunday completed the weekend. A big
thank-you goes to HHL, HHL Alumni e. V.,
and Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) who hosted
and sponsored this year’s Homecoming.
We also want to thank HHL’s faculty and staff
who gave their time to make this weekend a
memorable one. The planning process for
Homecoming 2010 has already started and
we are eager to incorporate your ideas and
suggestions. If you would like to become the
contact person for your class, please contact
Franziska Rook at alumni@hhl.de. We are
especially seeking a contact for classes K5,
K6, K7, K8, K15, K16, M5, and P1.
HHL News – wiNter 2009/2010
business background from university helps
me to bring both the functional requirements
and the technical possibilities
together.
HHL news: What does the HHL alumni
network mean to you?
I met my husband at HHL. So this “special
network” will hopefully last a lifetime. We are
also still in contact with many of our fellow
students and the HHL Alumni Homecoming
is a good reason to come back to Leipzig
to meet them and talk about the “good old
days” – and of course there are many more
things to come back to in this great city.
HHL news: What is the smartest piece of
advice you ever received?
Do not rely on your strengths only but also
allow for weaknesses in your job. You will
only stay trustworthy if you admit that you
have made a mistake or that you do not
know something.
Alumni chapter network growing
HHL’s active alumni are organized into eleven
chapters around the world, and many interesting
chapter meetings took place in 2009. One of these
was the London Chapter’s attendance of a reception
at the German Embassy hosted by the City of Leipzig
in celebration of 20 years since the Fall of the Wall.
Leipzig artist Neo Rauch gave an exclusive exhibition
of some of his works and artists from the Opera
Leipzig performed. The Frankfurt Chapter also had
an eventful year. After hiking through vineyards
earlier in the year, the chapter was supported by
Professor Dr. Torsten Wulf during a meeting with
a journalist from Süddeutsche Zeitung who is
researching alumni networks at private business
schools. This was a welcome opportunity to demonstrate
that the alumni network is growing.
In 2010, the Frankfurt Chapter is planning to meet
on a regular basis. Currently, they are organizing
several program highlights in the field of fine dining
and wine tasting, cultural events as well as
after-work events e.g. with Deutsche Bank.
At the moment, we are in the process of establishing
a chapter in India and also in the Benelux countries.
If you live in one of these countries and are
interested in getting involved, please contact
Alumni Officer Franziska Rook at alumni@hhl.de
Franziska Rook