Florian Moldenhauer MSc

The course

Why did you choose to study at the University of Edinburgh Business School (UEBS)?

First and foremost, I fell in love with the city when I visited in 2018. It was enchanting to look at the old buildings and I could sense a vibe that I wanted to be part of. I sat in a café near the campus and I noticed many students. I thought to myself: I want to be one of them.

What was it about the degree programme that particularly attracted you?

I decided to do an MSc to learn more about topics I cared about. The MSc Management programme offered a good choice of courses, allowing me to choose exactly what I wanted to study. In addition, it offered the opportunity to learn from researchers leading work on global issues.

Your career

Can you tell us about your career before and after graduating?

My undergraduate studies were in industrial engineering and business management in a German study programme called ‘dual studies’, which combined work experience with studying. Following this, I continued working in a big, international company that allowed me to spend time working in other countries. Before taking on the MSc, I worked in an analytical role within procurement.

After I graduated, I took on my first leadership role in finance and operations. I then moved to Norway and worked in financial roles both in an IT scale-up and now in an industrial start-up producing graphite for EVs.

How did your degree prepare you for your career?

One of the key takeaways from the experience was the global perspective it gave me. It was the emphasis on working with other people from all over the world. More often than not, the challenge of solving a problem came from navigating different backgrounds, cultures and sometimes languages. I learned a great deal from that and I continue to face similar situations in my day-to-day working life.

Collaborating with international peers and being aware of their narratives helped me to become a better negotiator, strategic advisor and friend.

Masters of Change

What notable changes has your degree enabled you to make in your professional or personal life?

I vividly remember the organisational behaviour lecture that taught us to think about people’s narratives, their view of self, before approaching any situation that requires collaboration. It’s a priceless skill that I continue using and refining in both my professional and personal life. It has helped me become a better negotiator, strategic advisor, and a better friend.

What are the changes you have been able to make in your chosen field, of which you are most proud?

During my time with a large German media company, I was able to combine data analytics with financial knowledge. I was a key driver behind introducing project management systems and BI-based analytics to systematically review business divisions and customer contracts. The outcome of my work was our ability to trace profitability across different dimensions of our service offerings, making better financial decisions and giving the company a stronger position in negotiations.

The role also prepared me for a large technical transformation project in an IT scale-up, where my contribution and support as a business controller enabled deep financial analysis.

How did your studies at the Business School help you to make those changes?

I am surprised at how many of the skills and methods I learned in the data analytics class I still use today. From concepts like regression analysis, to hands-on coding in python, or visualisation in tableau or similar tools. Even when I am not the one writing a script, it enables me to understand technical challenges faster and offer support where it is needed.

What key things that you learnt at the Business School do you still rely on today?

How to approach complex problems, break them down into manageable pieces, and communicate solutions effectively to people, especially those unfamiliar with the task.

Course highlights and advice

What are your best memories on the programme?

I have to admit, I always dreamt of studying at an old (Hogwarts-like) campus and Edinburgh is a city that offers this and much more. I love the aesthetics of this beautiful city and fondly remember sipping coffee in the many cosy cafés around campus.

What one piece of advice would you give to current students and recent graduates?

Be curious and build on the network you make. The Business School is a great place to learn and offers so much in addition to the curriculum. I made friends for life while also learning things that still apply to my career.