I was specifically fond of the fact that there were both theoretical and practical exercises outlined, which then took place during the actual studies
Name: Vendula Jorgensen
From: Czechia
Programme: Master's Programme in Wind Power Project Management
Graduation year: 2013
What have you been doing since your graduation from the Master’s Programme in Wind Power Project Management?
"After graduation in 2013, I started as a wind energy consultant on a German offshore wind foundation test project. From 2018 onwards, I have been expanding my activities from the wind power sector into management consulting for German utility companies. In 2019, I enriched my consulting life with a brand-new client: a baby, and am enjoying the absolute novelty of motherhood."
Where do you work today and what main tasks do you have?
"While being on maternity leave today, I am looking forward to returning to my current employer Accenture, one the largest consulting companies that helps other businesses re-invent and digitise their activities. My tasks fall into the project management support side and involve data visualisations, tracking budgets and project delivery milestones as well as general research tasks. I also conceptualise and run workshops with various stakeholders, which is where the knowledge gained from courses on stakeholder management and planning come into practice."
Why did you choose to study the Master’s Programme in Wind Power Project Management?
"Prior to the studies, I graduated from Master’s Programme English and Russian Studies and dedicated about 7 years to working with foreign languages as a teacher, translator and occasional guide and interpreter. At some point, I achieved my goals and decided to add something completely different to my portfolio: wind! The main reason was that I wished to start working in renewables. Of course, the location itself played an important role as Gotland is a real wind power base where you can visit a wind power plant easily, plus it is also a beautiful place. When I applied for the programme, I was specifically fond of the fact that there were both theoretical and practical exercises outlined, which then took place during the actual studies."
What kind of experiences and lessons do you bring with you from your education?
"Having come from the humanities background, I was well familiar with qualitative research and type of work. However, I needed to boost the quantitative side, which often pushed me to the edge. Regarding the WPPM, the lessons I bring with me are mainly those on consenting and planning, stakeholder management and community engagement, which have been helpful in my jobs. I have used acquired project management skills in all the energy projects I have been involved in. Moreover, the studies also boosted my digital skills. The practical exercises, excursions and field trips helped me to cement the learnings into my understanding."
What do you enjoy the most about your current job? Do you have any future hopes and dreams regarding your work situation?
"I am happy that I can be a part of the German energy transition, see how the energy world really works and be involved in real projects, which are mostly run in an agile mode and always deal with digitalisation. I am around people with lots of knowledge and experience and I feel constantly challenged as the given projects develop, progress, change and close. I can also learn things I did not even know I did not know – here I mean mainly new work tools, frameworks and the topic of (technology) innovation. My dream is that I manage to combine my career with my family, which I hope will both continue growing."
Do you have any recommendations or tips for those who think about applying to the programme and to those who soon graduate from the program?
"For those applying: have a clear idea about your motivation why you want to study the programme. Reach out to the staff or alumni if you have questions about whether your motivation matches with the syllabus. My second recommendation is to think of ways how you can achieve your goals already during the studies instead of after."
"For those who soon graduate: “Everything is an interview” – presentation of yourself already in the class during the studies, casual talk at a conference with an industry representative, networking anywhere as well as your online presence and many others. My second tip would be to keep a journal of your thoughts and aspirations regarding your career, go over your notes regularly and make a self asssesment how you are progressing on your goals."