Insights and Inspiration at the 2025 Digital Careers Day
On Saturday, amongst the busy weekend programme, we had our Digital Careers Day, a mandatory event successfully organized by Mr Klause. All Salem International College students had the opportunity to engage with experts from various fields during the 2-hour seminar, specifically with two of the many guest speakers of their choice. There was an impressive array of options—ranging from biochemists to fashion designers—ensuring something for everyone. I chose to attend sessions with two speakers from different fields: one with a background in business operations and the other in international relations and cybersecurity.
The former is a Salem parent, Dr Erwin Kern, who is currently serving as the CEO of his family-owned business “Handel und Beteiligung Kern GmbH & Co. KG” and studied Business Administration at LMU. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about his experience taking over the family business and his journey as CEO. His stories of growing up in a construction-oriented environment were particularly fascinating. I also found his response to a student's question, “How did your education in Business Administration help you in your job today?” insightful. Dr. Kern explained that most of his competencies were developed on the job, not in the classroom. He emphasized that his mistakes and personal experiences shaped him more than any lecturer could, though he also acknowledged that his degree and doctorate provided essential knowledge and insights into his field. He concluded that a solid education is invaluable, but real-world experience plays an equally crucial role.
The latter, Ms Tabea Breternitz, was an Altsalemerin herself. Despite her background in Politics, Administration and International Relations, Ms Breternitz is currently employed as Head of Federal Government Business at an international cybersecurity company. I loved talking to Ms Breternitz and was grateful for her honesty and openness in answering any and all questions we had. She discussed the difficulties of starting as a public servant without a law degree, the imposter syndrome associated with working in cybersecurity, a field that she had not pursued studies in and the events which ultimately led her to leaving her government job.
Beyond her career, the guest speaker also provided valuable insights on her experience with studying abroad and switching university pathways. My favourite takeaway from our session was her philosophy that one decision cannot and will not determine your life’s trajectory, but rather that everyone will meet many crossroads in life, and at each one you may decide to continue the current path or try something new. Either way, there will always be another crossroad and with it another chance to pick a different path.
Overall, the 2025 Digital Careers Day was a tremendous success and sparked important discussions about upcoming university decisions. I hope all students were able to gain valuable insights from these diverse perspectives. I would like to extend my warmest gratitude to Mr Klause for organising the event and to the guest speakers, specifically Dr Erwin Kern and Ms Tabea Breternitz, for giving us their time and providing an insight into their career fields!
