Interview with Gunnar Loehr
"Stand by your values and beliefs. Even against resistances. It pays off in the long run."
After graduating in Business Administration at the University of Cologne, our alumnus Gunnar Loehr studied the CEMS-Master International Management and completed a semester abroad at Copenhagen Business School.
He then worked for Lufthansa Cargo in Madrid, Dubai and Frankfurt and as VP Latin America & Caribbean in São Paulo. Since July 2019 he holds the position of Head of Procurement & Infrastructure at Lufthansa Cargo in Frankfurt. We talked to Gunnar Loehr about his international experience and look back on his time as a student in Cologne.
Mr Loehr, you studied the CEMS-Master International Management at the WiSo Faculty and worked abroad for a long time after that. How did the study programme prepare you for working internationally?
Even before my CEMS time I had been interested in living and working abroad, but after the many great experiences in my CEMS guest semester in Copenhagen this idea became a concrete plan. I was offered my first job at Lufthansa Cargo after my CEMS internship abroad in London. My then boss was transferred to Madrid and asked me if I wanted to join his new team.
With global responsibility and the many dependencies that need to be considered, everyday work is characterized by communication and coordination.
You worked for Lufthansa Cargo in Frankfurt, Madrid, Dubai and most recently in São Paulo from 2015 to 2019. What is the difference between German and Brazilian working life?
To be honest, the bigger difference, at least in a large company group, is whether you work in the headquarters or in the outside organization (and this could also be in Germany). With global responsibility and the many dependencies that need to be considered, everyday work is characterized by communication and coordination. In the outside organization, the focus is more on implementation and evolutionary structural improvements.
But of course the Brazilian and German lifestyles differ, not only in the working environment, but also in the private sphere. The importance of personal relationships, the importance of punctuality, the importance of personal communication, and so on. Almost everything that is written in the relevant literature on "Intercultural Competence” is correct ;-).
Be aware that the decision to move abroad can bring about changes in your relationships with family and friends.
What advice would you give to our students who are pursuing a career abroad?
Be aware that the decision to move abroad can bring about changes in your relationships with family and friends. You are no longer right there, or can sit in your car for 2-3 hours and be "at home".
Even if this may sound far-fetched during your studies or shortly thereafter, be aware that the social security systems abroad sometimes function very differently from those in Germany. Retirement is still a long way off, but it is not easy to bring the different systems together at a later point in time.
Most important learning: Saying "no" is allowed and necessary!
How do you maintain a work-life balance in your profession?
I am able to do this increasingly better with advanced age (experience?). I have learned to prioritize better and block times in my calendar for private things: sports, family, friends.
Most important learning: Saying "no" is allowed and necessary!
Were there any coincidences, situations, encounters with certain people during your time at the WiSo faculty that had a particular impact on your professional career?
I fondly remember the lectures of Prof Mackscheidt, Prof Delfs and Prof Hax, where I learned to present difficult topics as simply and captivatingly as possible for the audience.
During my time at OSCAR I learned a lot about project work, customer relations and team dynamics.
If you were to study again today, would you study the same thing?
I have studied Business Administration, perhaps I would attempt the - at least at that time possible - double diploma Business Administration/Economics. Regulatory policy as a school of thought has always helped me a lot with my professional questions!
The university years were an enormously good time!
Thinking about my time studying in Cologne, I think of...
Of course I think of the Dom, my family and friends and the coolest soccer club in the world!
A few years ago I ran the Cologne Half Marathon and at every corner of the track memories came up - the university years were an enormously good time!
Develop a feeling for timing. Not every idea can be implemented immediately. But sticking to good ideas is worth it.
What advice would you like to give to our students? What are your three tips?
1. What is right must remain right!
Stand by your values and beliefs. Even against resistances. It pays off in the long run.
2. Constant dripping caves the stone!
Develop a feeling for timing. Not every idea can be implemented immediately. But sticking to good ideas is worth it.
3. Everybody is different!
Listen to and discuss with other people. The more different the experiences, origin, etc. of the people involved, the better the decision. It is sometimes complex, but definitely worth it.
Thank you very much for the interview!
The interview was conducted by Franziska Zibert