Niclas Farrenkopf
2017 Advanced International Business Management MSc graduate Niclas is Director Strategy & Corporate Development at RTL Deutschland in Cologne, Germany.
Since graduating, what have you gone on to do?
Following my graduation, I moved to Munich, Germany and joined one of the largest media and entertainment powerhouses in Europe; ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE.
Later on, I joined the Strategy and Business Development Unit of Joyn, a new digital, multichannel entertainment streaming platform that bundles live-streaming and on-demand content for the German market.
As Senior Strategy Consultant I managed and evaluated company-wide, cross-departmental strategic projects or engaged in consulting of other teams and departments. I supported strategic initiatives, conducted detailed analysis of complex issues and created business models to enable and prepare strategic decisions on management level.
In September 2021, I moved to RTL Deutschland GmbH to take up the role of Corporate Strategy & Development Director.
Is the above what you planned to do before starting university?
My interest in strategy and business development developed before and during my master's studies.
Therefore, to some degree, my current job is quite in line with what I planned to do before starting university. However, starting my career in the entertainment industry was something I did not see coming back then. I certainly knew though that my chosen double degree programme would provide me with a broad set of options in an international environment in the future.
What was your favourite thing about your course?
Hands down, the level of international exposure and experience comes through the fact that the programme is equally distributed between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
While the focus on practical cases, the general importance of group work and assessments and the approachability of my teachers were all elements I consider as a huge benefit of the programme, the one thing that stands out is the strong international focus of the double degree programme which enables students to deep dive into two completely different cultures and educational settings.
These circumstances foster proactivity, openness and a positive mindset when it comes to change – all aspects which will not only bring you forward in your future job, but even more essential, which will bring you forward and help you grow as an individual, and which prepare you for today’s globalized world.
Were you involved in any other extra curriculum activities or societies during your time here?
I was heavily involved in activities outside of my programme. These included:
- Course Representative for Advanced International Business Management
- Secretary of the Student-Staff Committee
- Culture Committee Activities Officer of the Erasmus Student Network Groningen
- Newcastle University Tennis Society
- Newcastle University Squash Club
- NCL+ Advanced Award in Leadership
- GSTTV Idéfix Groningen
- TC Veracket Groningen
- Squadraat Squash Club Groningen
- Newcastle University Business Champion (University Ambassador)
How do you see future technologies and new ways of working (Future of Work) affecting your sector?
The future of the media and entertainment industry will be significantly shaped through the effects of technological advancements.
A growing trend away from television towards streaming, from linear/live to non-linear/on-demand video consumption and advancements in technologies such as voice recognition, virtual reality and machine learning will change the entertainment experience of consumers.
Work-wise we will see a growing trend towards flexible ways of working, an increased focus on work-life balance and potentially a shift away from the pure measurement of work time more towards work contribution (measuring impact, not effort).
We have a generation with a strong focus on the purpose and quality of work. We want to have an impact, and we want a workplace that is fun to work at.
In my opinion, the media and entertainment industry is at the forefront of this development. It’s an exciting environment with a strong trend towards global media consumption, with growing international competition and demands for new and innovative entertainment concepts. And technology enabling new products, features and innovations will for sure be in the centre of this development.
"Always go with the choice that scares you the most, because that’s the one that is going to help you grow."
(This Q&A was originally conducted in late 2021.)