"I had the opportunity to take on responsibility and further develop myself".

Hi, Alan! What do you especially like about your degree course?

Digital Business Management (DBM) combines traditional business administration knowledge with digital aspects, so the course also covers things like IT security and business analytics. This gives you a broad and future-oriented basis for your future career path. In the third year of my studies, I additionally chose data management out of the five specialisation areas that were available to me. Here we learn about, for example, the impact and significance of data in the business community and how data can be utilised effectively. The course of study offers numerous opportunities and covers a diverse range of subjects that you can specialise in after graduating.

Which team are you part of at the moment?

I'm currently working in the "Global Driving Experiences & Media Events" team, where our duties include organising international driving events for media representatives and other target groups. I'm currently helping my colleagues with two driving events, one of which will take place in Spain and the other in France. Projects like these are always really exciting because you have the opportunity to gather new experience with an international perspective and witness all the coordination work involved, meaning that you come into contact with lots of different people inside and outside the company. This role also means that I am close to the product and so get to see all the amazing cars and concepts that the development, design and other teams are creating. What I particularly love is that you can see the outcomes of your work directly. It's an amazing feeling when images and video material from an event first start appearing in the media and to know that you played a small role in making that happen.

What has been your highlight so far as a dual student at Mercedes-Benz?

It's not easy to pick just one thing. The past three years – including my time spent abroad with the product management team in Toronto – offered so much variety, but it was always really exciting! If I had to pick my best working day from the last three years, however, then I would say probably 19 July 2022. I was doing my second practical assignment, again as part of the "Global Driving Experiences & Media Events" team, and, on that day, had the honour of attending the Driving Experience EQXX event at our test site. I'll never forget the moment I first saw the EQXX live out on the track. It's an incredibly impressive vehicle.

What tips would you give pupils who are interested to apply for a dual study programme?

Some might be put off if a course of study has a digital component or includes mathematics and statistics as subjects. So if you're thinking of applying, let me put your mind at rest. You don't have to be a programmer or able to solve the most complex formulas to complete the course of study. If you're passionate about the company and the future of the car industry, love working in teams and are keen to face new challenges, then you've already got it what it takes to be successful in this course of study.

What do you enjoy most about Mercedes-Benz as an employer?

I particularly like the work culture here. Wherever I worked, the passion and dedication of the colleagues always motivated me to give my best. A lot of trust was placed in me too. I started my course of study right after graduating from high school and of course I was excited to see the extent to which I could prove myself in the work environment. But throughout my time at the company, my managers and colleagues always treated me as a fully fledged colleague and member of the team. This made it easy for me to take on my own responsibility and further develop myself step by step. I was also supported by the colleagues in our dual study programme team, who were always ready to assist me whenever I needed them.