Networking: Students in dialogue with professionals

On June 5, 2025, students met industry professionals from the sports, culture, and event sectors in the Festsaal (Festivities Hall) at the Kufstein University of Applied Sciences. The event was part of the Contact with the Future series, a practical project of the part-time master's degree program in Sports, Culture & Event Management. The event offered students from all semesters the opportunity to ask questions, make valuable contacts, and gain new perspectives for their own career paths.

First-hand experience

The invited speakers presented their individual career paths in short keynote speeches – from their entry into the profession to their current positions. They also described the challenges, detours, and personal decisions that have shaped their careers. With their authentic stories, they showed that a non-linear path is often particularly valuable and motivated the audience to courageously pursue their own paths. In addition, they provided insights into current developments such as changing working conditions, industry trends, and the growing importance of soft skills in the application process.

Speakers Share Career-Defining Lessons:

Sarah Dumböck, Motorsport Project Manager at KTM AG, reported that she is now doing exactly the job she always wanted to do and how challenging it is to assert herself and establish herself in the long term as a woman in the motorsport event industry.

Patrick Funke-Rapp, Red Bull Basement National Champion, Founder of Ecosport Nation and CEO of EasySnacks, he encouraged participants to believe in their own ideas and have more confidence in themselves – especially when it comes to taking the leap into self-employment.

Patrizia Obrist, former team manager at the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) and current CEO of Social Era, emphasized that asking for help in difficult situations is a sign of strength, not a weakness.

Anke Hellmann, The cultural affairs officer for the district of Rosenheim spoke about her path to public cultural work and emphasized the importance of attitude and personal responsibility in the cultural sector.

All four offered authentic perspectives with their personal stories and encouraged others to follow their own paths – even if they are not always straightforward.

Exchange on equal terms

After the presentations, the event moved into an open networking phase. Students were able to ask specific questions, share experiences, and make contacts in one-on-one conversations. The focus was not on the traditional application process, but rather on a relaxed, honest exchange between equals. This gave students authentic insight into the practical side of the industry.

The practical project team sums it up: “We learned how complex event planning is and how important teamwork, communication, and initiative are – without losing sight of the fun.” And they add: “It was exciting to get this event off the ground – from finding speakers and sponsors to organizing everything on site. Asking ourselves what added value we wanted to offer our guests helped us stay focused and keep pushing ourselves.”

Links:

• Sports, Culture & Event Management | pt