Great turnout, great speakers, great conversations
— the Career Talk was a full success! —
Great turnout, great speakers, great conversations — the Career Talk was a full success!
A big thank-you to Felix Hartmann from KfW and Michael K. from Ampega for sharing such valuable insights with our students and alumni.
🔹 Felix Hartmann provided an excellent overview of what sets KfW apart from other banks — from its unique mandate and business areas to the fact that, measured by balance sheet size, KfW ranks among the four largest banks in Germany. He also highlighted an interesting cultural aspect: many employees stay with the organization for a long time and rotate internally into different roles, fostering both continuity and diverse expertise.
🔹 Michael K. introduced Ampega, the asset manager of the Talanx Group, and offered a vivid look into the life of a portfolio manager — including how he experienced “Liberation Day” in the markets. He also emphasized a key principle of his work: executing trades without moving market prices, a challenge that strongly depends on the trading volumes of different asset classes.
🧭 Both speakers shared one important piece of advice:
You don’t need a detailed master plan for your career. What truly matters is staying open to opportunities as they arise — and having the drive to pursue what genuinely interests you and aligns with your strengths.
Our thanks also go to Prof. Hendrik Hakenes for moderating the event and supporting us with the organization, as well as to Viktoria R. , who stepped in as co-moderator on short notice — thank you both for helping the evening run so smoothly.
After the talks, we continued our discussions during a relaxed get-together in the faculty lounge, where students, alumni, and speakers had the chance to network and exchange ideas.
A huge thank-you to everyone who joined, asked questions, and made the evening so engaging. We’re already looking forward to the next edition! 🚀
