Gunnar Glaubitt, Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein

Gunnar Glaubitt has been working as a Treasury specialist at Schleswig-Holstein Investment Bank (IB.SH) since 2006, currently in the role as Head of Treasury. He studied for his Bank Administrator qualification at Frankfurt School between 2000 and 2006, during which time he was also working in the Treasury department of HSH Nordbank AG, specialising in liquidity management among other things. Afterwards, he was engaged in Alumni work and joined the executive committee of Frankfurt School Alumni e.V. for several years as Chairman. In 2013, Gunnar Glaubitt became a student again, enticed back to the campus by Frankfurt School’s certified Liquidity Risk Manager programme. 

Mr Glaubitt, during your earlier studies you were already working in liquidity management for HSH Nordbank AG. How did you manage to combine your studies with your work? And how did this combination help you in your career?

Actually, it was very easy to combine my academic studies with my professional activities. Because most on-campus events at Frankfurt School happened in the evening after working hours, or on Saturdays, I was able to combine work and study very successfully.

In addition, my employer at the time gave me a lot of support, which meant I could also attend lectures.

To what extent did your academic studies prepare you for the challenges faced by a Treasury specialist at Schleswig-Holstein Investment Bank? What did you find especially useful?

Because I was studying and working in parallel, I was immediately able to transfer my new, theoretical knowledge into practice– and at the same time, I was also able to reinforce the theory by comparing it with practical examples. In the Treasury department, practical experience is absolutely essential. The three-stage structure of the course was also very helpful: when you train as a banking specialist, you learn the banking fundamentals. Then, as you work on becoming a bank administrator, you build up your specialist knowledge in various areas. Finally, when you start focusing on management studies, you develop your personal skills through systematic training, and learn all about the broader strategic implications. It’s a complete package, and an excellent way to prepare for the professional challenges I must deal with now.

Why did you decide to pick up your studies again?

Since the financial and Eurozone crisis, people in general – and the regulators in particular – have become much more aware of the importance of liquidity (cash flow). So I felt it made simple, logical sense for me to extend my theoretical knowledge in this area by returning to the Frankfurt School campus.

Looking back, how important was your time as a student at Frankfurt School in the greater scheme of things?

Frankfurt School established a good, solid foundation for my career. I’d also say that if I hadn’t studied at FS, I wouldn’t have reached the position I’m in today as quickly as I have. In the world of work, the title of certified Bank Administrator (FS) means you’re ready to get involved in things over and above your working commitments, and that you’re correspondingly resilient. Another advantage is that you’re interacting with like-minded peers and building up a network that shouldn’t be underestimated, because you continue to benefit from it even after graduation.

What’s your favourite memory of your time at Frankfurt School?

I made many friendships. To maintain contact with other former students, I decided to join the FS Bankakademie e.V. alumni association. The association gives me the opportunity to stay in touch with alumni from all over Germany. As it happens, I also met my wife at a get-together for alumni in Stuttgart. In this sense, Frankfurt School and its alumni are very important to me personally, too!

How important are alumni for a business school? What do you think alumni can do for their alma mater?

Alumni always represent the university. As I see it, FS alumni are important ambassadors and promoters for the business school – not just in the world of banking and finance, but in broader social terms. So the university can benefit enormously from its alumni.

What’s your favourite motto?

You may delay, but time will not… (Benjamin Franklin)