Out of the comfort zone and into the world of finance: Niklas Kaminski is studying for an international Master's degree at Nova SBE in Lisbon
From studying management at UW/H, Niklas Kaminski boldly breaks new ground in international finance and gains valuable experience in Lisbon.
Even before his higher education entrance qualification, Niklas Kaminski knew that he wanted to study at Witten/Herdecke University. Looking back, the management degree programme was an ideal springboard for him - not only because of the specialised training, but also because of the network. Now Niklas is moving on: he is starting the International Master's in Finance at the Nova School of Business and Economics, paving his way into the financial sector.
Niklas loves a challenge: he has already spent a semester abroad at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan, to gain experience not only in his studies but also personally. He also made a conscious decision to go to Lisbon for his Master's degree. "I could have enrolled at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. But then I thought to myself: Lisbon is something else - a different language, a new culture and a much more international environment," says Niklas. "I believe that you can develop more if you dare to step out of your comfort zone."
Niklas started his first semester at the Nova School of Business and Economics at the end of August. After the first few weeks in Lisbon, he has settled in well, started his Master's programme and has even taken a field trip to London with the Nova Investment Club - including a visit to Deutsche Bank. Nova SBE is one of the top business schools in Europe and is listed among the leading Master in Finance programmes in the Financial Times, which underlines its international reputation. What particularly appeals to him about Nova are the small learning groups and the clear practical orientation, which he is already familiar with from Witten. "Here you have the opportunity to write either a traditional Master's thesis or an equity research report. This reflects very well the tasks that await you later in your working life in this field. You work in a team on a real-life problem, analyse a company on the basis of reliable data, forecast its strategic and financial development and derive a well-founded investment recommendation from this," explains the 21-year-old.
The goal firmly in sight: Network and internships as a career booster
KPMG, CVM, Carlsquare - even during his studies at UW/H, Niklas focussed clearly on finance and sharpened his profile with internships. Each company brought new perspectives. His time at the investment bank Carlsquare in Hamburg was particularly impressive. "The learning curve was extreme. You constantly had to familiarise yourself with new business models. I was particularly fascinated by the focus on high-growth tech companies."
During this time, he worked on M&A (mergers and acquisitions) projects with Mark Miller, also a UW/H graduate and co-founder of Carlsquare. He learnt how to develop financial models, conduct company valuations and create information memoranda - a comprehensive document that presents the company's business activities, financial situation, market position and future prospects to potential buyers and investors and is intended to arouse interest by convincingly presenting its strengths and growth potential. He was particularly impressed by the performance of his colleagues. Niklas: "The internship showed me what you can achieve when you work together excellently as a team and support each other. It also changed my view of my own performance - an experience that benefited me considerably in my subsequent applications for the Master's programme and my Bachelor's thesis."
Door opener to Niklas' internships? The job fair. At the UW/H recruiting event, he got talking to company representatives and left a lasting impression. "Of course, I had to go through the same process as other applicants. But it's definitely an advantage if you already know a contact and therefore have a foot in the door," says Niklas. He sees the UW/H network as a great opportunity for students' career planning: "I don't know anyone who still doesn't know exactly what they want to do after their Bachelor's degree at Witten."
Niklas' bucket list for Lisbon
Niklas' goal is clear: he wants to gain a foothold in the financial sector. In order to realise his plan, he has his sights firmly set on the next stages. Next year, he is due to complete an internship abroad - a prerequisite for graduating from Nova SBE.
Alongside his studies, Niklas wants to use his time in Portugal to get to know the country and its people. Exploring Lisbon, taking a trip to Porto - Niklas has several items on his bucket list. The self-confessed BVB fan has one highlight firmly on his mind: watching a football match live in the stadium! "I haven't decided between Sporting and Benfica yet, I still have to do that. But yes, it's definitely on the to-do list."