The first day of the excursion started early at 7am, when IBM students met in Villach to jointly travel to Vienna by train. After arriving in Vienna on time, the group prepared itself for the first company visit at Ottakringer Getränke AG. They were greeted with a concise presentation by Harald Mayer, managing director of the Ottakringer brewery. Moreover, students had the opportunity to join a Q&A with Mr. Mayer and Ottakringer group CEO Markus Raunig. Afterwards, the group was given a tour through the brewery and concluded the visit with a degustation of different varieties of Ottakringer beer. In the evening, the students came together for dinner and enjoyed their free evening in Vienna.
On the second day, the IBM students visited the Rail Cargo Group at the central train station in Vienna. There they had the unique chance to join a discussion with Carl Azinger (Managing Director Rail Cargo Logistics, Austria GmbH), Matthias Kirchgasser (Managing Director Rail Cargo Operator, Austria GmbH) and Wilhelm Sterl (Department Manager HR-Development & HR Projects). After a joint lunch and a short walk along the Donau, the group continued the company visits at STRABAG SE. Students engaged in a fascinating Q&A with the company’s CEO Klemens Haselsteiner in one of the impressive STRABAG buildings. Afterwards, they could use the occasion to visit the new work offices together with Linus Waltenberger (Corporate Development) and Joy-Estelle Luchsinger (Innovation & Digitalization).
On the last day of the excursion, the group visited Josef Manner & Comp AG. In the headquarters of Austria´s leading producer of confectionary, the students were given an amazing presentation by the head of corporate communications & sponsoring, Karin Steinhart. After an engaging question round, the group was taken through the production of Manner by the guide and Bakery & Chocolate Shop department manager Gabriel Ehrentraud and accompanied by Anna-Lisa Marent (executive board secretariat). Not only were the students able get insights into Austria’s most trusted brand, but also visited a state-of-the-art production site in the heart of Vienna and tasted the freshly produced and iconic Manner Neapolitaner Schnitten.
During the excursion, students had the opportunity to visit interesting companies, meet with top managers, strengthen the IBM team spirit and spend three wonderful days in Austria’s capital. The IBM students were accompanied by Prof. Dietmar Sternad, junior researcher Verena Fink and research assistant Evelyn Stele.
