Anthony Hoffmann

I started my career doing an apprenticeship as an air traffic officer. After that, I worked for different companies in the air traffic industry and so, right from the outset, I was highly specialised in this sector. To get an insight into a range of other industries and methods, I started online studies in business administration at IU. At this time, I was working as a senior analyst at Flughafen Zürich AG.

With a degree from Senior Analyst to Major Projects Controller

I didn’t have to wait long for my degree to bear fruit: While studying for the degree, the position of Major Projects Controller at Flughafen Zürich AG was advertised, which required a university degree. Thanks to my previous good work, my personal motivation and the prospect that I would soon be graduating, I got the job.

As Controller, I now support all major projects at Flughafen Zürich AG with an implementation sum of at least 50 million Swiss francs and can devote myself to my passion and fondness for figures. The most exciting projects currently include the project to construct a new, small district in a projected called The Circle and expanding the central baggage sorting system at the airport. Within this framework, I also support subprojects for the purposes of credit management. I calculate the business cases for them and create reports and analyses for the decision-makers. It’s easy for me to draw on the assessment methods for the business cases I learnt in my degree because I was able to develop a deeper understanding of them through my studies.

Promotion, family and studies: IU’s flexible learning model makes it possible

The fact that I managed to study alongside my full-time job and also change to a new job with more responsibility was only possible due to IU’s flexible time model: A typical day for me comprised office time, time with the family and then only when my children had gone to bed did I have time to study. Fixed classroom appointments for lectures would not have been possible for me – especially while I was in the process of changing jobs. In short: the degree suited my needs and schedule perfectly, not the other way around.