“Love it, change it, or leave it – life is what you make it!”

Florian Klein, Head of Business Development and Strategy at BIPA Parfümerien GmbH

Before starting CEMS, I did my Bachelor’s at WU during which I spent an exchange semester at Saint Petersburg State University in Russia. I gained first working experience as an intern at SAP, Kearney and in public service as well as in banking – trying out a few things along the way.

 I started CEMS in 2011 at WU with one exchange semester at NUS in Singapore and have never looked back since. I got equipped with a broad general management skill set and met amazing people and friends that I hold dear to this day (first and foremost: my wife, a CEMSie herself, who I’ve met during my first CEMS term at WU. Married for seven years, with one great son!). Moreover, the CEMS environment taught me a great deal about work attitude and drive. Finally yet importantly, the CEMS brand and community open doors for you (if you are ready to pass through them)

 After finishing CEMS, I started working at BCG (first as Associate, then Consultant) where I focused primarily on strategic controlling and organizational design topics in the banking and industrial goods sectors. After roughly three years, I decided to take some time off and pursue a PhD as a Teaching and Research Associate at WU in the course of an educational leave from BCG (starting in consulting at leaving it at the right moment was probably the best move in my professional life so far). I did some recruiting and interviewing for BCG on the side, but focused on research and teaching for most of my time. On the side, I set up a boutique consultancy business (www.intior.com) focusing on internationalization strategy of SMEs and start-ups together with colleagues and friends from WU.

 I graduated from my PhD studies in early 2019 and now work as the Head of Business Development and Strategy at BIPA, a part of REWE Group and a leading Austrian retailer in the drugstore sector. I manage a small team of three and support the management in matters related to sales, pricing, product, or promotion strategy.