Philip Gruber

Self-employed software consultant and founder of ChainBreakConsult

Study program: Management, Communication & IT (Master)

When I look back at my time at MCI...

...I think of the exciting courses with lecturers from the private sector and science, the projects we were able to carry out in cooperation with renowned Tyrolean companies, and of course the unforgettable study trip to Silicon Valley.

How did your studies prepare you for your current job?

The main reasons why I decided to study at the MCI were the entrepreneurial focus, as well as the internationality and practical relevance of the courses at the MCI.

Both on a professional and personal level, I was given numerous tools at the MCI that make my daily activities easier. These include management tools that I use at customer meetings, communication strategies that strengthen my presentation and negotiation techniques, and a broad range of IT expertise that helps me to think holistically and with a view to the future and to advise my customers in the best possible way. One of the best experiences at the MCI was learning how to make my personal goals and visions tangible and realizable. The MCI taught me to think like an architect. At the beginning of a project there is only an idea, the abstract concept of a building. With courage, energy and conviction we can concretize, plan and finally realize our ideas to build a house according to our wishes. This metaphor can be applied to both professional and private areas.

What I found particularly appealing about the MCiT course of studies was the tension between the eponymous areas of management, communication and IT, and the opportunities for innovation that result from the mutual integration of these fields.