Currently, around 1,000 graduates successfully complete their studies at the School of Business & Economics each year. One of the most well-known graduates to date is Dr. Christian Böing. Most recently, he served as the CEO of the fiber optic expansion company Liberty Networks Germany. Until 2020, he was the CEO of STRATO AG and the deputy CEO of 1&1 IONOS SE. Currently, he is active as a member of the supervisory board, advisory board, and independent consultant for various companies. He particularly advises private equity firms on M&A projects, assuming advisory and shaping roles as a Senior Advisor in the supervisory boards of portfolio companies. The focus of his independent consulting lies in "Go To Market Strategy" and "Value Creation Leadership Planning and Implementation." After completing his studies at the University of Münster’s School of Business & Economics, where he graduated as a Diplom-Kaufmann, Christian Böing began his career as a research assistant to Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Heribert Meffert at the Marketing Center Münster. He spent ten years studying and pursuing his Ph.D. at the School of Business & Economics. In the interview, he reflects on this time in Münster.

What is your fondest memory of your time at the University of Münster?

There are three memorable moments: Certainly, the accounting lecture by Dr. Issel in my first semester stands out among all lectures. Even today, I find it remarkable how Dr. Issel conducted an interactive session in lecture hall H1 with over 800 students. The manuscript was sold in advance and everyone had a copy. Content and exercises were presented continuously. And Dr. Issel taught the material so well that attending the lecture and participating was enough to pass the exam. Also unforgettable are the moments when Dr. Issel addressed individual students: "The accounting friend with the blue sweater up there, please tell us…". If you stood out visually, it was your own fault and you had to answer in front of 800 classmates. I have never dressed as inconspicuously in gray in my whole life as in the accounting lecture. Another lasting memory is my first bike traffic jam: During orientation week in the first semester, we visited Mensa 1 at Aasee. And on the way back towards Juridicum, I experienced not being able to cross the intersection with the first green phase because over 100 cyclists were already waiting at the intersection. When I am on business trips today, whether by car, plane, or train, I fondly remember the ease of cycling in Münster and the short distances. And the most special moment was when, after 9 years in Münster, I received my doctoral certificate from my doctoral supervisor, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Heribert Meffert. It was the culmination of a long, very intense, formative but above all beautiful time in Münster.

What was the most important lesson you learned during your studies at the University of Münster?

From today's perspective, the most important lesson was the compulsory subject "Accounting and Controlling (RWC)". I understood (or was forced to understand) back then that every entrepreneurial action is expressed in results, numbers, data, facts, and a transfer to accounting. As a marketing expert, one can only ascend to the CEO position of a company if one has internalized and lived this lesson. I firmly believe that RWC laid the foundation for me to develop a very broad understanding of business administration. With every decision, I see not only the market/customer effect but also the financial effect, e.g., the effects on liquidity, risk distribution, provisions, costs, company value, etc.

What advice would you give to our current students?

My advice for Bachelor and Master students is very different. For Bachelor students, unfortunately, memorising and diligence have a greater impact on grades than the ability to understand everything in detail. Once you've passed the hurdle of the math exam (and a lot of understanding is required there), you should start memorizing early enough in the semester to achieve good grades. Compared to the time of my studies, Master's students have the advantage that they accumulate their exam grades over time with the credit point system. I still had to write the dreadful five final exam papers at the end of my studies. Today's system promotes the "understander" rather than just the diligent one. As a current Master's student, I would focus my credit accumulation on writing and presenting seminar papers. Writing a scientific paper promotes structural and precise work. Those who can break down complex tasks and solve them step by step are well prepared for business practice. As a side effect, the grades achievable in seminar papers are generally better than in exams.

You have remained connected to the School of Business & Economics through your membership in the Advisory Board. What tasks does the Advisory Board perform and how do you experience the collaboration?

The Advisory Board advises the dean and the professors on the direction of the School. For example, we discussed things like "English in the Bachelor's program" or "digital teaching versus hybrid versus in-person". It took us a while to find the right working mode and to deal with very specific questions. The members of the Advisory Board have an incredibly high identification with the School and want to contribute to making the University of Münster a top destination for business studies. In the first years, we mainly had "qualitative" discussions and consultations. Recently, we have focused much more on data. We look at student numbers over time. We know which focus subjects are chosen most frequently, understand failure rates and average grades, and, thus, align our work much more with the measurable reality of teaching and research. Opinions can be numerous, but facts cannot be argued away. The extent to which the professors accept our advice and follow through with actions will only become apparent in the medium term. However, I have the feeling that we are met with great understanding.

all Alumni Stories