Careers with the MBA. "I Control the Supply Chain of 800 Suppliers Worldwide for Our 400 Depot Branches"

[HHL gGmbH - 01.08.2013] Patric Spethmann is a graduate (2009) of the Part-time Master in General Management Program (MBA) of HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management. Alongside his studies at HHL, he worked as a Senior Consultant in strategy development for retailer Tchibo. "It was an excellent combination of theory and best practice", he explains looking back. Patric Spethmann continues: "The symbiosis of lectures, case studies and group work as part of the MBA program and the practical work off-campus paid off for me and was worth the effort. After completing the program, I received some fantastic job offers. I decided to stay in retail, an industry which keeps proving the old German saying, 'trade is change'."

Patric Spethmann describes his current work as follows: "As the Head of Supply Chain Management at Depot - Gries Deco GmbH, I work in a team of 130 people and am responsible for the entire supply chain. Consequently, I connect 400 branches with 800 suppliers worldwide in direct consultation with the CEO and owner of the retail chain. We must ensure that the right product turns up at the right place with the right quality and quantity and, of course, at a reasonable cost."

The Hamburg-born graduate considers the construction of one of Germany's largest and most modern distribution warehouses as well as the opening of a purchasing office in Hong Kong, where he also serves as the CEO, as the highlights of his job so far. Moreover, he regards inspiration, motivation and team spirit as the key to successfully working together with his colleagues every day.

Looking back at his Master studies at HHL, Patric Spethmann says: "Certainly, no headhunter would have suggested me for a demanding leadership position at the age of 30 without the MBA degree.
Ultimately, I was able to impress with the combination of an MBA degree from one of the best business schools in Germany and my solid work experience."

The Part-time Master in Management Program (MBA)

The two-year part-time MBA program with a focus on General Management is designed for people working in middle management who would like to expand their existing knowledge by practice-oriented and up-to-date management knowledge. The classes held in English teach the basics of economics in combination with concrete management tools. The participants benefit from an innovative curriculum which is no longer structured in a purely functional manner but also follows an interdisciplinary approach in accordance with the challenges in management (Managing Investors, Managing Society, Managing Customers etc.). Due to the participants' various academic and professional experiences (e. g. the fields of engineering, IT, finance, medicine, law) they have the opportunity to exchange views and learn from each other through case studies and group work. The proportion of international students in the part-time MBA program at HHL stands at 30 percent. The classes are taught by renowned national and international lecturers (e. g. from the US, Sweden, Canada and the Czech Republic). The lectures take place in Leipzig on one weekend per month. They are combined with three module weeks which are spread over the entire two-year duration of the program. Two weeks are to be completed at HHL and one week in Boston, MA, USA, within the framework of the so-called Global Immersion Seminar. HHL stands out with its extensive network which expands the participants' personal and business contacts. A university degree and proof of several years of professional experience are the prerequisites for an application. The closing date for applications for the program, which starts in March 2014, is January 15, 2014. http://www.hhl.de/part-time-mba

ESF funding for HHL programs

The tuition fees for the part-time MBA program at HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management are eligible for funding by the European Social Fund (ESF) and are tax-deductible. The ESF money covers up to 80 percent of the cost for training programs. It must be proven that the program enables potential future managers of medium-sized companies to take on new global challenges and therefore can improve the competitiveness of their companies. Information: petra.spanka@hhl.de or http://www.esf-in-sachsen.de

HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management

HHL is a university-level institution and ranks amongst the leading international business schools. The goal of the oldest business school in German-speaking Europe is to educate effective, responsible and entrepreneurially-minded leaders. In addition to HHL's international focus the combination of theory and practice plays a key role. HHL stands out for its excellent teaching, its clear research focus, its effective knowledge transfer into practice as well as its outstanding student services. http://www.hhl.de