Alumni profile: Axel Becker  [20.12.24]

"Be curious, interested and committed. Don't be afraid to ask questions if you don't understand something!"

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Name	Axel Becker
Subject	Business Administration and Economics with a specialization in Business administration (Diploma)
Studied at the University of Hohenheim	1984 - 1991

 

 

Today I am :

Head of Finance at the German-Australian Chamber of Commerce (AHK) in Sydney, Australia.

My tips for the start of your career and for your career path:

Be curious, interested and committed. Don't be afraid to ask questions if you don't understand something. Be polite, friendly and respectful to colleagues and superiors. It sounds old-fashioned, but it is still very much appreciated and you will normally be treated as such.

The skills I acquired during my studies have helped me the most in my career:

In addition to the specialist knowledge from my studies, my interest in other countries, languages and cultures has helped me a lot. I did internships abroad in Switzerland and Australia during my studies and this makes my CV much more interesting and attractive to potential employers. The internships were arranged through AIESEC and I can only recommend this organization. I still have a lot of contact with friends I met during my internships abroad.

How have your studies at Hohenheim influenced you and your work:

I learned an incredible amount, both professionally and personally. As a student, you have to think for yourself a lot, work and study independently, but also as part of a team, set priorities, ... These attributes have helped me a lot in my life.

My professional network has been and still is important for:

My professional network is very important for exchanging ideas with like-minded people, socializing with new contacts and being invited to interesting events. This can be very helpful when looking for a job if you want to make a change. Apart from the professional network, the private network is also very important. In my spare time, I am an ambassador for InterNations, a social network for people who work abroad. I organize monthly events for 50 to 100 people from all over the world. You can get to know lots of interesting people and exchange experiences. It's really helpful if someone needs help or tips on finding a job, accommodation, visas, ...

My next professional goals:

I've only been with the AHK for six months and still need to familiarize myself a bit. The next goals are a few business trips here in Australia and then hopefully later this year to the DIHK in Berlin to get to know my colleagues in Germany. It's always much more fun to get to know people in person rather than just via email and team meetings.

I like to think back to that when I remember my studies in Hohenheim:

Internships abroad, the many events and parties at the university and the many friends I made during my studies. And of course the great UNI Hohenheim, the beautiful historic building and the beautiful gardens.