Many graduates of the School of Business & Economics aspire to spend at least part of their careers abroad and gain work experience in an international context. One alumnus who has fulfilled this dream is Torsten Kleine Büning. After completing his studies in Information Systems at the University of Münster, Torsten Kleine Büning quickly ventured out into the world. Now, after more than 20 years, he can look back on a diverse career with numerous professional positions abroad, primarily in Asia. After graduating from Münster in 2001, he began his career as a Consultant for Operational Risk. This was followed by roles in Risk Management in Vienna, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Singapore, and Mongolia. In late 2020, Kleine Büning moved to Cambodia, where he currently serves as the Chief Risk Officer of ABA Bank. In addition, he has been a Member of the Board of Governors/Treasurer of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia for several months and has chaired the Risk Committee of the Association of Banks in Cambodia for three years.

In the interview with Torsten Kleine Büning, we learn more about his exciting career and the diverse experiences he has gained.

Dear Mr. Kleine Büning, what are the biggest challenges you have faced in your international career?

Before I address the challenges, I want to emphasize that my studies in Business Informatics, with its broad curriculum, have been incredibly helpful. In my various roles, it has been advantageous to be a generalist with solid knowledge at the intersection of information technology, business administration, economics, and mathematics. This has helped me tackle the biggest challenge: mediating between different functions within companies and pursuing solution-oriented approaches. Often, various departments and functions operate in isolation, making it difficult to create a common understanding or find a shared language. Especially in the field of Risk Management, the challenge lies in avoiding the "ivory tower" and thereby succeeding in both business and risk management.

How did you initially get involved in Finance/Risk Management, and could you imagine switching to a different field?

I started my career in consulting as a Summer Associate at Arthur D. Little, working on an interesting IT project. Through my experience in building a system architecture and its implementation, I came into contact with the topic of Operational Risk. At that time, Basel II was the big issue, and that's how I entered the financial sector. My studies once again proved beneficial, allowing me to master both the subject matter and the art of presentation and communication. In general, Risk Management is an area where information technology, mathematics, and business administration strongly overlap. What was considered exotic in the late 90s—data mining, machine learning, and controlling—are now the hot topics in risk.

I wouldn't rule out a change after my various roles in Risk, Compliance, and Governance. You should never say never.

Could you imagine working in Germany again in the future, or what advantages do you enjoy abroad that you would miss in Germany?

As I said, you should never say never. But the great appeal of working abroad lies in the constant need to engage with new work and communication cultures and different ways of thinking. These differences make the same problems appear different each time and require constant learning and adaptation—something I would likely miss in Germany.

What advice would you give to graduates interested in pursuing an international career?

For those interested in an international career, it’s important to seize opportunities and take the first step. A "can-do mentality" is also helpful—seeing challenges as opportunities rather than problems. Finally, networks created through international internships, for example, can be invaluable.

all Alumni Stories