Guest lectures
Guest lectures enrich our academic programme by offering valuable perspectives from the worlds of practice, academia and society. On this page, you will find recent examples of visits and lectures by external experts who share their experiences, insights and best practices with us.
Whether it’s innovative trends, industry-specific insights or personal career paths – our guest lectures offer inspiring ideas and open up new perspectives that look beyond our own horizons. They create space for exchange, discussion and networking, and help to meaningfully bridge the gap between theory and practice. Please do get in touch if you would like to give a guest lecture to our students.
Guest talk on investing in property
Maximilian Balzer, a specialist in investment property at Tecis AG, explained to students on the Financial Management I module when and for whom investing in property makes sense, and how it can be financed. The course leader, Prof. Dr Bernd Mühlfriedel, was particularly pleased that the initiative for the guest lecture came from the students themselves and that, thanks to a partnership with WingLA, the event could also be opened up to interested auditors from all faculties. We’d be happy to do it again, as property is one of the major asset classes alongside shares, bonds and private equity.
Long-serving BMW HR manager to be our guest
"Organisations must constantly evolve," said Karl Hacker, a long-serving BMW HR director and member of the University Council, during his guest lecture in Prof. Dr Josef Fischer’s course “Fundamentals of Human Resource Management”. Karl Hacker has 35 years’ experience in various HR and management roles at BMW AG, including as head of human resources at the Landshut and Dingolfing plants in Lower Bavaria.
According to Karl Hacker, sustainable organisational development can only succeed if managers provide guidance, communicate transparently and actively involve staff. It is not just efficient processes, but skills development, collaboration and motivation that are crucial.
Using specific tools, Karl Hacker demonstrated how companies can foster skills, retain skilled staff and secure their long-term viability, with an increasing focus also being placed on employees’ individual development aspirations.
Through numerous practical examples, Karl Hacker succeeded in bringing theoretical concepts to life. During the discussion that followed, the students took the opportunity to ask questions about career paths and current human resources management. The faculty would like to express its sincere thanks for this practical insight.
Nico Hahn, guest speaker – consultant on transformation and New Work
As part of a guest lecture in the module “Work, Organisational & Personnel Psychology” taught by Prof. Dr Josef Fischer, Nico Hahn gave students on the Business Psychology and Sustainability Management programme a personal insight into his career path and his current role as a manager at zeb consulting, where he advises companies on transformation processes.
With remarkable candour, Nico Hahn spoke about his career path – from his apprenticeship as a bank clerk, through various roles in the banking sector, to his degree in Business Psychology. His message: successful careers rarely follow a set plan. This makes it all the more important to remain open to new opportunities.
Above all, he emphasised that the people who believe in you, even in times of doubt, are crucial: family, friends and colleagues. At the same time, he stressed that having a specific goal in mind helps you to work with greater motivation and achieve better results.
In addition to his personal career journey, Nico Hahn also gave the students an insight into his day-to-day work as a management consultant. The focus was on the “zeb cultural model”, a scientifically grounded approach that makes corporate culture measurable and thus malleable. Using a specific real-world example, he illustrated how expertise in business psychology contributes directly to the future viability of organisations.
Guest lecture on VAT law
In Prof. Dr Zinser’s Taxation I module, our students welcomed Mr Robert Hammerl, LL.M., Diplom Finanzwirt and tax adviser, who impressed them with valuable insights into professional practice through numerous real-world case studies.
By actively involving the students throughout, Mr Hammerl created a particularly lively and motivating learning atmosphere. The lively discussion made the subject of VAT law easy to understand and surprisingly engaging.
Value in Real Life
Dr Sascha Haggenmueller, co-founder and Managing Director of the Radial Consulting Group based in Munich, Miami and Los Angeles, explained to students on the Taxation and Financial Management modules taught by Professors Dr Thomas Zinser and Dr Bernd Mühlfriedel how a company is valued in practice, CFA.
In addition to presenting various methodologies, he also emphasised the realisation that, when it comes to company valuation, the interests and power dynamics of sellers and buyers always play a very significant role. Drawing on his practical experience, Dr Haggenmueller thus confirmed the saying often attributed to Warren Buffett: “Valuation is more an art than a science.” And thanks to this guest lecture, our students have become a little better at this art!
Insights into tax consultancy
The students on Prof. Dr Zinser’s Tax I module were delighted to welcome Mr Jonas Gallerdörfer. He is a tax adviser at ECOVIS Dingolfing, as well as the founder and driving force behind the association ‘Junge Steuerberaterinnen und Steuerberater e.V.’ Mr Gallerdörfer provided a wide-ranging insight into the professional life of a tax adviser and shared his practical experiences. Particularly fascinating were his analyses of the reasons behind the still sluggish progress of digitalisation in German tax practices, as well as his assessment of digitalisation within the profession. He also addressed the much-discussed ban on third-party ownership, which represents an important issue for the future of tax consultancy. To conclude, Mr Gallersdörfer put forward 10 propositions for debate, which sparked a lively discussion amongst the students.
Guest lecture on business succession
Students on Prof. Dr Zinser’s ‘Business Succession’ seminar and those on Prof. Dr Mühlfriedel’s ‘Financial Management’ module welcomed Sebastian Schenk, co-managing director of MAWA GmbH, based in Pfaffenhofen, at a joint event.
Following a brief introduction to the company and some background information on his career – in particular, his many years’ experience working for management consultancy firms in the field of restructuring, which provided valuable insights for his subsequent role as managing director – Sebastian Schenk spoke about the challenges involved in intra-family business succession.
He then took questions from the students, answering them enthusiastically and, in some cases, with impressive candour and honesty. Despite all the – often unexpected – difficulties and challenges that come with being a managing director, he concluded by saying that he has never regretted his decision to join his mother’s company and that he can only urge all participants to take on entrepreneurial responsibility.
Check24 in the Tax Competence Module
The students on Prof. Dr Zinser’s Taxation module were delighted to welcome a guest speaker: Christoph Maier, M.A., in-house lawyer and tax adviser at Check24. As a former student at Landshut University of Applied Sciences in the Faculty of Business Administration – Business School, he had also taken part in the Taxation module.
In his talk, he offered fascinating insights into his career path and the diversity of his experiences to date – from his apprenticeship as a tax clerk to working as a student trainee at a Big Four firm, right through to his current role as in-house tax adviser at Check24.
As well as learning about the history of the comparison portal, the students gained many practical insights into its internal processes and the day-to-day work of an in-house tax adviser. Other topics included the difference between working as an in-house tax adviser and as an external tax adviser, as well as the use of artificial intelligence in tax consultancy and the extent to which this technology can serve as a tool for improving efficiency.
Xpecto in the ‘Entrepreneurial Skills’ course
How many apps on your smartphone do you actually use regularly – and how many of them would you be willing to pay €10 a month for?
This question sparked a lively discussion in the ‘Entrepreneurial Skills’ course during a session with Harald Elsperger, Managing Director of xpecto AG.
A key takeaway: the business model “We develop an app and generate revenue through usage fees” is one of the most challenging approaches for start-up founders – even though it is currently very popular. Together, the group analysed the pros and cons of various business models and compared them with real-world experience.
Particularly fascinating was the insight into the history of xpecto’s founding, which Harald Elsperger, as co-founder, played a key role in shaping.
For the students, who are currently developing and implementing their own business ideas, the discussion provided valuable inspiration and practical insights that will help them progress on their entrepreneurial journey.
Analysing and interpreting financial news correctly
Being able to do this is particularly important for students on the Financial Management I module taught by Prof. Dr Bernd Mühlfriedel, CFA. After all, the assessment involves producing a share analysis and presenting it, followed by questions from the critical professor and the other students. Applied investment management, then – and for this, you need up-to-date information on the company being analysed, the sector and the broader economic environment.
Edmund Pelikan from the Foundation for Financial Education – a former banker and financial journalist – explained how to find this information in a practical guest lecture, followed by a lively and thoroughly critical discussion.
The fact that a good financial education is essential for successfully navigating life is no longer news to our students. Unfortunately, however, it still is for many people in Germany! There is still a great deal to be done!
Social Media Marketing & AI
How can you boost your company’s performance through effective social media marketing in the age of artificial intelligence?
Dr Falk Hannemann from Lodron Performance provided practical answers during the practical reflection session led by Prof. Dr Bernd Mühlfriedel, CFA, and gave examples of
- social media marketing that attracts customers
- successful personal branding as an expert
- AI ads on Google, Microsoft and LinkedIn
- sales psychology in the digital space
It became clear: AI ads are already part of everyday life. Algorithms control visibility, click prices and trust. And companies that test and refine their strategies are building a competitive edge. Companies without a plan are wasting their budget.
Among the students were many who were well-versed in the subject and asked active and detailed questions accordingly. A great turnout!
Legal structures, tax & social security – what do start-ups really need to bear in mind?
Dr Hannes Zieglmaier, a partner at Dr Kleeberg & Partner GmbH, an audit and tax consultancy firm, addressed these and other legal issues in the ‘Entrepreneurial Finance’ course led by Prof. Dr Bernd Mühlfriedel, CFA, as part of the Bachelor’s degree programme in Digitalisation & Business Start-ups. Drawing on practical insights and specific examples, he shed light on the complex legal landscape facing start-ups and provided students with valuable information and practical advice.
Dr Thomas Haslinger on ‘Introduction to Business Studies’
Why is it crucial for a local authority to have a strong economy? What role does the university play in this? What is business rates? Who levies them, how much are they, and how are they allocated? And what is the state of the economy in the Landshut region, and what challenges and opportunities does it present? Dr Thomas Haslinger, Deputy Mayor of Landshut, addressed these topics in Prof. Dr Bernd Mühlfriedel’s ‘Introduction to Business Administration’ course. Following his lecture, Dr Haslinger was available to answer questions from the students, which also touched on other topics such as the workload of a Second Mayor who serves in a voluntary capacity. This provided a valuable opportunity for our students to broaden their perspective beyond individual companies to the wider context in which all economic activity takes place.
Presentation by financial experts and start-up managers
Dr Angelo Mößlang provided valuable insights into the world of biotech start-ups in Prof. Dr Bernd Mühlfriedel, CFA’s ‘Entrepreneurial Finance’ module.
Students on the BA programme in Digitalisation & Business Start-ups learnt a great deal about the differences between the day-to-day work of a finance manager employed by a large corporation and that of a managing director at a start-up.
Macroeconomics in Practice
During a fascinating lecture on 17 December 2025, Senior Advisor Dr Veronika Püschel provided insights into the German Council of Economic Experts’ annual report.
Current economic policy issues in Germany were examined, illustrated with clear and accessible graphics on these topics. The focus was on the economy, special funds and wealth distribution – presented in a concise, succinct manner and with impressive depth. Alongside this substantive input, students were able to see their macroeconomic fundamentals put into practice.
Many thanks for this inspiring lecture and the discussion with the students!
Dell Technologies visits the Master’s programme in Market-Oriented Business Management
Our alumnae Franziska Heinritz and Katharina Winkler from Dell Technologies visited students on the Master’s programme in Market-Oriented Business Management (MUF) during Prof. Dr Gronover’s sales management lecture.
The workshop focused on the sales process in practice. Through role-plays, key elements were actively tested and explored in greater depth.
Many thanks to our two alumnae for the practical insights and their great commitment!