Management – A Career Predetermined For Me

When I read the quote from Henry Mintzberg, “Management is, above all, a practice where art, craft and science meet”, it resonated with me. It summarised my experience and opened a gateway to a new way of thinking for me. From the start, I found the “science” part of management very familiar, mainly due to my passion for mathematics and logical thinking. In my work experience at an Austrian digital company ‘Mindberry’, I analysed website traffic data for a business based in Australia. I immersed myself in interpreting the data and detecting patterns.

I finalized my report in less than a month and presented my findings to the Head of Business, many of which were later implemented. To strengthen my scientific understanding, I took an International Baccalaureate course in Economics, in addition to the german Abitur qualification. I found Microeconomics very useful to deepen my understanding of both the individual and the organization. From studying the early days of the neoclassic, who considered that homo economicus is led by rational decisions, to the recent work of 2017 Nobel Memorial Prize winner Richard Thaler, "establishing that people are predictably irrational in ways that defy economic theory", I have come to think that understanding people is the essence behind thorough microeconomics models and successful management approaches. I saw first hand the “art“ of management when our class visited the UK company ‘ChargeBox’ and met with their management who shared their inspiring vision with us. Their passion for their product was reflected in the care they took in manufacturing and hiring the people who would share the company vision and carry it forward.

The people we talked with were creative in their ideas and their adaptation of these and taught me a definition of “art” that goes beyond paintings. This young company showed me the power of combining art and science in management. When it comes to management “craft”, the company, which stands out for me, is Procter & Gamble. I had the privilege to learn a lot about it through my family, visiting its headquarters in Cincinnati a few years back, and I found the experience truly impressive. The company structure and its core values as well as the appreciation of the individual, as described in John Pepper’s “What really matters”. Reading this book helped me acknowledge some of the many skills that go into good management and what ideas, such as the power of community, helped P&G succeed. My own personal craft, on the other hand, is in its early days. My experience of living in three countries and studying at German School London, home to many international students and teachers, has given me the ability to manage change and to adapt to new environments. At the heart of this, is my aspiration to help people and the ability to work with them. Last year, when I learned that my class was the first one to undergo the new ‘Deutsches Internationales Abitur’ at our school, I was elected as class representative because of my proactive approach of talking to my colleagues and presenting ideas for how to best plan for this new way of learning. I hold other roles of responsibility- leading our school’s charity group, graduation committee as well as extra-curricular events – roles I hold because of my ability to understand people’s needs and expectations. Art, craft or science - I have always succeeded in turning my passions into long-lasting commitments. After 11 years of competitive swimming, I became a part-time lifeguard.

Now, I tutor mathematics to younger children, hoping to inspire them with my love of the subject. I am convinced that my passion and determination will help me continue my personal journey from being intrigued by management and its multiple facets, to applying it to real life. If the Mintzberg quote is true, then my focus is to find that ideal balance, that defining and distinctive ratio which will help me grow and prepare me to lead organizations and teams through the difficult yet so exciting world of the future. I will use my course to earn me the right to be considered both a great manager but also a trusted and inspiring leader.