In Port and Learning: KLU Stories

In this episode, SuMO students Zakaria Nefaoui and Spencer Artman are joined by Nelson Zampieri, Lean Six Sigma Manager at Pandora, who shares his journey from a law graduate in Brazil to an operations leader in Europe. Nelson explains how Lean principles like Kaizen, PDCA, and standardization are applied in practice, why people and mindset matter more than tools, and how coaching and teaching fuel successful transformations. The discussion also highlights the challenges of engaging employees, creating lasting habits, and building momentum for continuous improvement.

In this episode, SuMO students Merry Haarder and Thomas Ponath talk with Thomas Hougaard, Senior Vice President at IFU (Investment Fund for Developing Countries), about the role of sustainable finance in accelerating the global green transition. Drawing on IFU’s portfolio and Thomas’s own experience, the conversation explores both the opportunities and challenges of impact investing in developing economies. Thomas shares concrete examples, from scaling solar power in Nigeria to reducing the carbon footprint of cement production in Ghana, illustrating how private capital can unlock solutions to systemic sustainability challenges.

His passion for logistics and sustainability is only comparable to his passion for people. Ferdinard Quaye, recent participant of KLU’s Master’s in Sustainable Management and Operations, gives us first-hand insights into sustainability practices across the world. From his homeland, Ghana, to Germany, Ferdinard looks back into his educational journey and how sustainability is met in different societies. How can we encourage green technologies? Can we be really sustainable when not all the countries comply? Find out in this episode!

Endless curiosity and fascination for exactitude. These two traits made KLU Professor Arne Heinold embark on a life of research to find the optimal solution for very complex problems. Get to know his journey from studying at KLU to teaching the next generations about AI, transportation, and operations, from Hamburg to Vietnam. See how pure mathematics, logistics, data science, and business analytics can deeply influence to make our lives easier.

Heard of love at first sight? This is more like “friendship at first talk”. Exchanging a few words was enough for David and Michael to know they had found a real soulmate, matching each other’s craziest ideas. From gaming together to becoming business partners, they have gone through it all, and have the greatest tips for a healthy relationship. Throw in the mix drones, AI, unstoppable energy, laughter, and a bit of insanity, and you've got the recipe for a lifelong and meaningful connection.

Comfort-zone free. This way can Leska and Linus be described after challenging themselves during their semester abroad. From the skyscraper fantasy of Shanghai to the flavors of Mexico City, our KLU students bring us along on this journey through their experience. Discover how they went from misunderstandings with the locals to receiving wedding invitations from them. And of course, add incredible places to your bucket list.

Inspiration has one name: TED. And KLU students Oleksandra Shvets, Paul Scharlau, and their team have dedicated a year of hard work to bring the world-renowned seal of impactful stories to our Campus and to Hamburg. Get to know how a small student club became a true task force in pursuit of knowledge beyond the classroom, gathering some of the most stimulating minds to share a piece of their exciting lives with our community.

Diversity and inclusion are not synonyms, but they are interconnected. As a manager, employee, or simply as a human being it is key to understand this connection and have the tools to integrate diverse people. How can you become more inclusive in your day-to-day life? Prof. Gazdag, our expert on the topic, gives us in this episode clear achievable steps to make this happen and create for us all a better work environment, and a more aware and respectful world.

The right attitude and a good pitch. Those tools made Alan Coronado stand out at KLU's annual Career Connect recruiting event and get hired by Sysmex, an international company specializing in medical devices. Sysmex hosted Alan for his mandatory internship. In this experience, he further developed his knowledge of sustainability, learned about the day-to-day life of a big corporation, and of course, made a lot of new contacts. Alan runs us through his experience and gives his impressions about the intern life.

As a child someone handed him a hockey stick, and his enthusiasm, abilities and hard work did the rest. Bili’s dream of being in the world’s biggest championship, the Olympics, has come true… twice! Discover in this episode not only a great athlete, but a great person, and how true effort, big ambitions, and deep humbleness lead to superb achievements.