I work as Head of Business Development/Ideation and Innovation Consultant at Venture Idea GmbH, a consultant company for systematic innovation based in Düsseldorf, Germany. My time is divided between project work for the clients and company work.
Project work consists of developing innovation concepts for clients such as l’Oréal, Vodafone and Moët-Hennessy with our self-developed “5C innovation process” that includes analysis, trend research, creative workshops, etc. Company work consist of many different tasks, including client meetings, publications, new processes and strategies, product development and project structuring, that further develop the company and the ideation process.
The curriculum in Strategic Entrepreneurship at Jönköping International Business School (JIBS) helped me prepare for my job as I could develop both my analytical and creative skills. Creating a New Venture is a very helpful course for learning the basics of business modeling and design thinking – and to see how an idea can take shape as a concept. Corporate Entrepreneurship was also important for me, as it deals with the challenges large companies face when it comes to innovation – which I am trying to solve for them now.
JIBS offered an entrepreneurial environment that opened my mind to try new things. The focus on group work and the international and diverse student community helped me understand the diversity of perspectives on each topic.
I also learned the importance of stepping out of my comfort zone as well as finding my own path.
As project management qualities are needed as much as creative thinking, I would encourage anyone who wants to go into my line of business to take a variety of different courses and become engaged in various projects to learn as many different things as possible – because these experiences will help you in your work, although you may not realize it now.
Lysander Weiss
Former Student, Strategic Entrepreneurship, Jönköping International Business School
Head of Business Development/Ideation and Innovation Consultant, Düsseldorf, Germany
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