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Germany Chapter Spotlight
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With world-famous companies, such as BMW, Porsche, Mercedes,
SAP,
Siemens, Allianz, Bayer and BASF, headquartered here in Germany, this
country has become the second largest management consulting market
worldwide and a growing center for private equity and investment
banking.
But business isn’t the only thing thriving in Germany—it also has a very
active McCombs MMA Network chapter.
Because our alumni are dispersed all over Germany, we organize major
events several times each year. The most important event is our annual
meeting, which lasts two days and takes place in an attractive hotspot
in Germany. We use this event to talk about chapter affairs, kick off
new initiatives, elect the leadership team for the following year, and,
of course, network and have fun together. In addition, we plan a ski and
golf weekend once a year—and we always gather at the end of September in
Munich to party at Oktoberfest.
In between gatherings, we keep in touch with our quarterly newsletter,
which contains the latest news on chapter activities and upcoming
events.
This year, the German chapter also hopes to promote McCombs by awarding
a scholarship (including in-state tuition) to a German-speaking MBA
student at the university. We are also working to arrange summer
internships with German companies.
To build a stronger alumni community in Europe, we have
begun to
approach McCombs alumni in other European countries and invite them to
our events. We are very excited about this opportunity to create
relationships between McCombs alumni across borders. Simultaneously, we
are also approaching the remaining McCombs alumni in German-speaking
countries who are not yet involved with the chapter. (Of 100 McCombs
alumni in German-speaking countries, 66 are currently active.)
We are both very proud of what the German chapter has achieved in recent
years and very excited about the potential for further improvements and
future growth. If you come to Germany and want to get involved, please
contact us. We hope to hear from you and see you at our next event!
Florian Hoppe, MBA ’02
florian.hoppe@mba02.bus.utexas.edu
Andreas Wenzel, MBA ’99
awenzel@alumni.utexas.net
Germany Attractions
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Whether you’re in Germany for a short business trip, for an extended
project or as a permanent resident, this country offers countless
opportunities for travel, entertainment, culture and sports. The FIFA
World Cup will certainly be the top event of 2006. And even if you’re
not lucky enough to get tickets to the tournament itself, activities
associated with the World Cup—and the great international
atmosphere—make this a great time to visit Germany.
Of course, soccer isn’t the only attraction Germany has to offer. The
variety of landscapes, leisure activities, sporting and cultural events,
and an excellent infrastructure attract millions of tourists to Germany
each year.
While you may know about German cities, our countryside is an attraction
not to be missed. Despite being one of the most densely populated
countries in Europe, Germany has a wealth of natural beauty. With the
North and Baltic Seas, lake and river landscapes, low and high mountain
ranges, and large number of country parks and nature reserves, visitors
and residents can enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities.
In addition, anyone wanting to experience art and culture will be
delighted with Germany. The numerous castles, stately homes, churches,
monasteries, and the historic city parks attract both tourists and
citizens alike. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization has even deemed 30 German locations world cultural heritage
sites.
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Each of the major German cities offers its own traditions and delights,
as well as a wide range of interesting events and entertainment
opportunities. In Munich last year, more than six million visitors
consumed about 6.1 million liters of beer, 95 oxen and hundreds of
thousands of sausages at the 17-day Oktoberfest celebration.
Berlin, divided until 1989, constitutes a symbol of German unity. With
its vibrant art and theatre scene, international trade affairs and
musical events, the capital city is livelier than ever. Also, the part
of the city that previously belonged to East Germany is now a very hip
residential area surrounded by many stylish bars, restaurants and night
clubs.
Cologne, a city with its own dialect and mentality, is world famous for
its carnival season starting November 11. The carnival’s main event,
called the “three mad days,” is held just before the beginning of Lent
and attracts more than a million participants. In Dresden, the harmony
between the beautiful Baroque architecture and the Elbe River is a
must-see.
Other German cities—large ones, such as Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Hannover,
Leipzig, Nuremberg or Stuttgart—and small picturesque towns, such as
Bamberg, Heidelberg, Rothenburg, Weimar and Würzburg, also offer many
attractions.
Though Germany is one of themost densely populated countries in
Europe—with
more than 82 million inhabitants in a 350,000 square
kilometer area—it’s still easy to get around the country. The transportation infrastructure allows easy access to all points by car,
rail, coach or plane. Nearly 100 tourist roads, such
as the “Romantic Road” and the “German Wine Road,” bring visitors to the
ancient rural areas of the country. Because of its central location in
Europe, Germany is also an excellent starting point for trips to
surrounding countries like France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy or the
Czech Republic. —Florian Hoppe and Andreas Wenzel
