Frankfurt School New Year’s Reception

On 14 January, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management hosted its New Year's Reception on campus. Friends, donors, alumni, and companions from industry, politics, society, and academia came together to look back on the past year at Frankfurt School, take a look ahead to the new year, and discuss key topics for the future.

“We need to get many things moving!”

Rainer Neske, Chairman of the FS Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Board of Management of Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, opened the evening. His message was clear: confidence and determination are exactly what Germany needs right now. “We need to get many things moving,” said Rainer Neske. Companies and institutions must take responsibility and lead the way. Frankfurt School stands for precisely that – as a place that “virtually vibrates with drive, future-oriented topics and innovation.”

Education and the potential of artificial intelligence are decisive competitive factors, especially for a country like Germany, which is poor in natural resources. Cutting-edge research, excellent teaching and close cooperation between science and industry are the ‘"driving force for a better Germany". Frankfurt School is excellently positioned in these areas. This is also reflected in the results of international rankings. He referred in particular to the renowned UTD Research Ranking, in which Frankfurt School ranks first among business schools in Germany and improved by 16 places worldwide – the biggest climber in the ranking. In the Financial Times European Business School Ranking, Frankfurt School ranks 31st.

Frankfurt School as a place for personal exchange, encounters and new perspectives

In his welcome address, Professor Nils Stieglitz, President and CEO of Frankfurt School, also referred to the disruptive power of new technologies, which at the same time highlight the value of human interaction. Artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing how we work, learn and make decisions. AI can analyse and accelerate, but it cannot convey values or build relationships. This is precisely why personal exchange is becoming increasingly important. Frankfurt School is much more than a place of knowledge transfer – it considers itself a “place of encounter, dialogue, contradiction and collective thinking”.

A clear course for 2026

With this in mind, Nils Stieglitz outlined plans and projects for 2026. The aim is to position Frankfurt even more strongly as a place of encounters – for example, with the new Skyline Learning Centre on the 7th floor, which will create space for students to learn, exchange ideas and find inspiration. In collaboration with Futury, a hub for startups and entrepreneurship in the Rhine-Main region is being created at Bertramshof.

At the same time, Frankfurt School is continuing to expand its international presence. An Executive Education Centre has been opened in Dubai; in the future, degree programmes will also be offered here, enabling Frankfurt School to strengthen its global reputation and network.

Small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany face complex challenges. With a new institute, Frankfurt School aims to address these challenges, develop practical and scientifically sound solutions, and provide guidance to companies as a sparring partner.

“Together, we can achieve even more.”

Professor Stieglitz concluded by emphasising that, particularly in times of technological disruption, institutions are needed that take responsibility and create meaning. Against this backdrop, he thanked all supporters who help make Frankfurt School precisely such an institution. “Together, we can achieve even more,” said Nils Stieglitz. Special thanks went to the WM Group, which supports the Philipp Sandner Award and an endowed professorship for Financial Technology.

ChatGPT in E-commerce – Research with Real Impact

The evening’s keynote was delivered by Professor Dr Christian Schulze, Associate Professor of Marketing. He presented findings from his latest study on the impact of ChatGPT on e-commerce. Based on data from 973 e-commerce websites with total revenues of approximately USD 20 billion, the study is the first to analyse ChatGPT-generated product recommendations in direct comparison with established digital marketing channels.

The results show that ChatGPT-induced commerce currently lags significantly behind traditional channels such as search engines, email or affiliate marketing, but demonstrates clear potential for future growth. The study thus provides a realistic assessment of the role of generative AI in digital commerce and offers valuable insights for companies and platforms.

The speeches provided diverse impulses, leading to lively discussion and networking during the subsequent reception in a relaxed atmosphere.