Photo: Wikicommons A.T. Mueller (Bergen) | Udo Haake/Köln Tourismus GmbH
With fish and "Flöns" to an international Masters!
Interview with alumnus Christian Kukwa
Our Alumnus Christian Kukwa has had a varied and diverse career since leaving the University of Cologne. We asked him about his time at the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences (WiSo) and the time after his graduation in Business Administration (CEMS MIM Programme) in March 2007. Christian also shared a precious alumni advice with you.
Ayla Wisselinck of the WiSo Faculty spoke to Christian Kukwa.
Christian, why did you decide to study Business Administration in Cologne?
The University of Cologne has an outstanding reputation among the best universities for Economics and BA in Germany, and of course, Cologne is a great city for students, offering so much: my favorite soccer club 1.FC Köln, Cologne Carnival, the Rhine, the traditional local meal “Flöns” (black pudding), and much more…
Why the CEMS MIM Programme at the WiSo Faculty?
I was always a very international minded person. Early on into my studies, I knew I wanted to spend some time studying in countries I never had visited before. Thus, my first semester abroad via PIM led me to Prague, Czech Republic. At the University of Economics I met Roberto, my future flatmate and one of my best mates today. He was so extremely passionate about CEMS. The thought about applying for it already crossed my mind before, but he gave me the ultimate push. So I applied from Prague for the programme, knowing that I wanted to experience life in Norway and got accepted for the following year.
What advice do you have for people thinking about moving abroad to study?
Just do it! I think that the University of Cologne is an amazing institution, but to broaden your horizon it is indispensable to spend time abroad. Studying and living in a foreign culture provides you with life changing experiences, long-lasting friendships and it might be a game changer for life.
What was your favorite memory or experience while abroad?
Norwegians are extremely kind, warm-hearted and hospitable people. Norway is certainly the most trustworthy and honest nation in the world, with a very high degree of equality, independence and informality. Furthermore, they display extremely strong national pride, cherish traditions as well as being mad about sports and outdoor life. The latter one proved to have influenced me significantly and transformed me into a true outdoor addict for life.
In which way did your education at the WiSo Faculty influence your further career choices?
My time at the Organisationsforum Wirtschaftskongress (OFW), working at the chair of Prof. Kopplemann and my tenure on the executive board of the PIM & CEMS Club provided me with friendships as well as amazing contacts that had a significant influence on my career choices. By far, my greatest gratitude is due to the International Office (ZIB WiSo), because they provided me access to real life changing experiences in Prague, Bergen as well as in Cologne, i.e. they introduced me to A.T. Kearney, my previous employer, which had the largest influence on my future career path.
You are now working as a Senior Investment Manager. Could you describe a typical day at work?
In Private Equity, no day is like the other, and a daily routine does not exist. Being an opportunistic investor, we look into all industries and therefore on one single day you might be speaking with someone from a media agency, a fashion retailer, and an old-fashioned manufacturing business. An investment professional at H.I.G. covers the entire value chain of the PE business, from deal souring to deal making and subsequent portfolio management, i.e. being responsible for the company’s growth, as well as managing the exit process after 5-8 years. My days are so diverse, interesting and challenging, that I can rightly so say, that this is my dream job.
How do you achieve your work life balance?
I would rather call it Life Balance, as work is part of one’s life and I have to enjoy work to achieve a balanced life. Friends and sports are what matters most to keeping this balance. Despite triathlon being an individual sport, a good team and constant exchange with friends increases one’s performance tremendously. Thus, I combine friendship with sports most of the time, as running or working out together is always more fun.
As an Alumnus, what advice would you share with current WiSo students?
Love it, leave it or change it: if you are not happy with the status-quo, you either change it or you leave it until you have reached a state of constant happiness and you love it. I never accepted a state of unhappiness for long and made sure that an unbearable status-quo changed until it felt right again. That meant, for instance, that during my time at the university I would drop a course eventually that I did not enjoy, or during a work engagement I would speak with my manager to improve the work environment. That does not mean that you should always leave too quickly, because power of endurance is an important quality and sometimes you need to wade through a vale of tears to see the sun again. As long as it is brighter than before.
About Christian Kukwa
Christian is a Senior Investment Manager at H.I.G. Capital, a leading global private equity investment firm. Before joining H.I.G., Christian was responsible for strategy, corporate development and acquisitions of a Private Equity portfolio company. Previously, he worked at the strategy consultancy A.T. Kearney and the investment bank Lehman Brothers. He holds a diploma in Business Administration from the University of Cologne and received the CEMS Master in international Management from NHH in Bergen, Norway.
This interview exists in long version.