Lisa-Marei Keding

At Knitter & Associates, I support both leading mid-sized and global and national companies in the areas of strategy & organization, transformation & digitalization, mergers & acquisitions (M&A) & post-merger integration (PMI), and project management & project management office (PMO), to lead ambitious projects and business strategies to success.

In my initial studies in business management, I built my business management knowledge, among other things, in the areas of financial management, marketing, and corporate strategy. Through my master’s degree in management, I deepened my knowledge in these areas and simultaneously acquired new skills that are essential for leadership positions. These include, for example, knowledge in change management, leadership, project management, organizational development, and the development of human skills such as self-reflection.

I benefit from the Experience Based Curriculum today because in the seminars I not only received pure theoretical knowledge but also learned skills such as interview or negotiation techniques or conflict resolution that I could immediately apply in my job. Due to the papers we regularly submitted, I gained a lot of knowledge that I regularly use in my job or in discussions, whether it be network theories, models and methods of strategic management or theories of change management. Additionally, the dual master’s degree at SIBE and, above all, the outstanding degree opened many doors in the job market and helped me build a wide network.

I recommend the dual degree program for those interested in obtaining a very good academic education while also gaining practical experience. A dual management degree program is ideal for students who want to take on responsibility early on. It is also a good choice for those interested in improving their career prospects, as they can already gain valuable professional experience during their studies. However, it is important to note that a dual management degree program can be very demanding, as both academic performance and performance at work are required. It therefore requires a high workload and a high level of commitment and organizational talent.

A modern leader should bring from their studies a solid understanding of leadership techniques, effective communication, self-reflection, strategic planning, team management, and change management. Additionally, I consider it important to develop intercultural competence, ethical responsibility, and a willingness to continuously learn and develop.

I often think back to my SMM177 course. Many moments that have remained in my memory are situations during the seminar days. I especially enjoyed the time together with my fellow students, including the time we spent at the Wasn. However, the most beautiful moments were our stay abroad in Brazil. Although it rained almost continuously for three weeks, we had a lot of fun and made the best of the situation. After that, most of us went on vacation, which we spent almost as if it were a complete course in Rio de Janeiro.

I regularly had the SIBE competence assessment of my professional, social, and methodological skills carried out with my private environment as well as with my then mentor. With him, I set target values for certain skills that I wanted to achieve at a defined point in time, as we considered them fundamental to my job. This regular exchange of information made my strengths clear to me and also revealed where I could improve. Part of the SIBE competence assessment also included evaluating it in writing. This meant that I would always confront myself critically in order to continue developing. In particular, the comparison between my first and final SIBE competence assessment showed an evolution that I am very proud of.

At the same time, the SIBE competence assessment has made it clear to me what values are important to me in my job and also to the employer.

Our course SMM177 was very diverse due to the different companies and areas in which we worked. This led to lively discussions in the seminars, which enriched the seminar time. I still keep in touch with some of my classmates – with some sporadically, while others have developed a friendship.

Furthermore, my master's degree at SIBE has also provided me with valuable professional contacts with senior executives who also studied at SIBE. It is also very gratifying for me that, thanks to my master's degree at SIBE, I have found a mentor in Prof. Dr. Heiko von der Gracht.