DA alumnus Thomas Kögler on his career since graduating from MAIS 22 in 2019

Having studied at the Vienna School of International Studies from 2017 to 2019, the MAIS programme has equipped me with a broad knowledge of international political affairs which has proven to be a valuable addition to my pre-existing expertise in economics and business. Moreover, the DA provided me with the opportunity to study at Stanford, where I could meet and learn from some of the world’s most exciting professors. Beyond these academic benefits, I have particularly appreciated the strong sense of community that the DA offers. I was able to form lasting friendships and a great professional network.

My professional career builds on various work opportunities and extracurricular activities. I have interned at the Austrian Economic Chamber where I deepened my understanding of international trade affairs. Co-founding uniworks, a leading Austrian e-learning platform, has allowed me to take on a leadership role while also having a real social impact since we offered all our courses free of charge. In 2017, I interned as a bank analyst at the Austrian National Bank.

These experiences, skills and activities have allowed me to become a bank supervisor and analyst at the Austrian National Bank in 2019. In this role, I supervise and monitor Austrian banks, analyse business models and implement complex data analysis projects, while also being involved in digitalisation efforts. In addition, lots of our efforts have to be coordinated at a European level with the European Central Bank and the other member states’ national banks. In this international environment, the skills I learnt at the DA are invaluable. Overall, my job provides me with a highly fascinating and challenging professional environment. Working on such topical and pressing issues, I feel like I am making a personal contribution to the good of society.

[February 2021]