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From Chemnitz to South Africa: A career path full of opportunities!
Find out more about Sebastian Sachtleben, industrial engineer at Chemnitz University of Technology and Managing Director at Afrox Ltd. in an international context.
From Chemnitz to South Africa: A career path full of opportunities!
The industrial engineer Sebastian Sachtleben, who was born in Karl-Marx-Stadt (now Chemnitz) in 1981, has an impressive career. After studying at the TU Chemnitz He entered the automotive industry, where he gained experience at Porsche AG, among other things. Sachtleben is currently Managing Director for the Africa region at Afrox Ltd., a subsidiary of the globally active Linde plc. This reported sales of 31 billion US dollars (26 billion euros) in 2021, which underlines the company's enormous reach and importance.
His professional career has taken him to various countries, including the USA, Sweden and currently South Africa. In these international environments he recognized the importance of intercultural skills. “Curiosity, open-mindedness and tolerance are crucial to adapting to different cultures,” he emphasizes.
Interdisciplinarity of the studies
During his time studying at Chemnitz University of Technology, Sachtleben particularly appreciated the interdisciplinary content of industrial engineering. These have had a strong influence on him and continue to support him in his career to this day. He emphasizes that close friendships and intensive learning phases were essential. His internship in the automotive industry also proved to be a springboard for his entry into professional life.
The training of future managers also takes place at other educational institutions such as OTH Amberg-Weiden a high priority. In the master's program in intercultural business and technology management, graduates are prepared to work successfully in international teams. The curriculum covers technological developments and business contexts as well as cultural factors that play a role in global business.
A holistic approach
Students learn to link different aspects together in order to understand processes and structures holistically. This master's degree is particularly attractive for graduates of interdisciplinary bachelor's programs, such as industrial engineering or international technology management. It not only promotes communication skills, but also the social skills and willingness to cooperate that are required for leadership tasks in international contexts.
In his free time, Sebastian Sachtleben enjoys traveling and recently went on a road trip through Namibia. He values teamwork and emphasizes the importance of the support of his wife, who is also an alumna of Chemnitz University of Technology. His advice to aspiring career starters is to be open, willing to learn and motivated, as well as to show commitment and build networks.
The international focus of companies like Linde requires highly qualified specialists with a wide range of skills. The challenge of finding and training these skilled workers will have a significant impact on the future market, which is why intercultural skills and technical know-how are becoming increasingly in demand.