Peter Klesse, our contract lecturer for the module Sales and Price Management, introduces himself today in a short interview. He tells the students how he felt about his first lectures and what students can expect from him in the future.
What motivated you to teach at the Hochschule Niederrhein?
I've always wanted to pass on what I've been able to learn and implement over the years as a management consultant and interim manager. Presenting an unfamiliar topic to inquisitive students gives me the opportunity to get unvarnished feedback and thus fine-tune the topic. In this way, I can work out the best method and make my presentation didactically sound. As the author of a few publications (my current book "Systematischer Vertriebserfolg auch in Krisenzeiten - Impulse, Strukturen und Stresstest für Wachstum und Effizienz" ("Systematic Sales Success Even in Times of Crisis - Impulses, Structures and Stress Test for Growth and Efficiency") is published by SpringerGabler), it excites me to make topics "round". The students enable me to do this through their questions and comments, as they are less in-depth in the subject and thus have a different perspective. I came to The Hochschule Niederrhein through a long-standing contact with Prof. Dr. Vergossen and one of my best friends who studied at this university.
How did you feel about your first courses?
Due to the Corona pandemic, my courses took place as distance courses. That is, this lecture had to take place via Zoom. However, this provided many opportunities to make the course as varied as possible. For example, Zoom offers the possibility of carrying out group work very conveniently in breakout sessions. You can use the video function as well as get feedback via the chat function. In addition, I had incorporated a few elements of the survey app Mentimeter to both conduct queries, generate wordclouds and have the event evaluated at the end. All in all: the time went by quickly, I didn't find the distance lecture a hindrance. And it was fun to introduce "my" students to the subject.
What can students expect from your lecture?
Having spent many years at large consulting firms and even more years as an interim manager at different companies, I can draw on a broad spectrum of knowledge and experience: theory from Boston Consulting, Gemini Consulting and Mercuri International and practice on mandates in sales, but also in project management and overall responsibility. In addition, I have experience from many industries. In my courses I incorporate theory as well as concrete case studies from current projects. I focus on industrial business and point out differences to other businesses, which I also know from my own practice. In the courses, it is important to me to combine the presentation and discussion of new content with group work, the results of which are then quickly made available to the students on Moodle. I had already made homework topics available at an early stage and presented my expectations and a transparent evaluation system.
What advice would you give first-year students of a career-integrated MBA?
Self-organization is key to study success, as is good stamina: eight hours, especially in video mode, is no mean feat. Take advantage of all the advising available when preparing and completing assignments. Also, look very carefully at the expectations of the university teacher / lecturer and ask questions by phone or in writing; take advantage of advising opportunities. It is not a sign of weakness to ask; on the contrary. Deal with the current core publications; it makes more sense than trying to read everything available. Find your own method of taking meaningful notes and be comfortable with it as well. Also, acquire a method to retrieve what you have written down. Learning together with fellow students is easier, so try to make contact with them, work together, even in times of corona and distance lectures.
