I'm Dr Werner Krings, a German–American visiting professor and board-level adviser with 30+ years in B2B growth and digital transformation across Europe, North America, and Asia. I completed the Warwick Global Online MBA with Distinction and received the Change Maker Scholarship. My work centres on strategy, international expansion, and cross-functional alignment – always with practical tools people can use the next day.
 

What first attracted you to Warwick Business School?

Academic rigour with real-world impact. I wanted to stretch with purpose and apply new frameworks immediately at the board, cross-functional and country levels. A friend recommended me to go for the best and I wanted to update my knowledge in a global MBA programme.
 

Why did you ultimately choose Warwick Business School for your MBA?

The faculty, administration, MBA peers, and the culture. The Change Maker Scholarship confirmed that Warwick values contribution to people and community, not just grades – a perfect fit for how I lead and mentor.
 

Did you utilise the WBS CareersPlus team whilst you were studying at WBS?

Yes – especially Sarah Jackson. We refined my senior leadership narrative and accelerated my readiness for a career change. That work now helps me guide prospective candidates who reach out to me.
 

What elements of the programme did you value the most and why?

Insightful guidance from Professor John Rudd, a genuinely global faculty and cohort that shares what works, and assessments that demand clarity and delivery. Rotating group work surfaced strengths and blind spots – and raised my performance.
 

What was it like studying for an MBA?

Intense and rewarding. I balanced corporate responsibilities with overseas professorships in India, the US, and Vietnam. When tech setbacks hit – most memorably during Financial Management – I learnt to build redundancy, communicate early, and deliver under pressure. The journey was humbling and deeply worthwhile.

Tell us about the community at Warwick Business School.

Generous, international, high standards. Classmates and WBS support teams showed up when it mattered, and the cohort became a global sounding board. I pay that forward by mentoring applicants and offer-holders – many decide on WBS after those conversations.
 

Tell us about what your company does.
Through Conciexon™, I'm building advanced learning pathways for ultra-high-net-worth successors and gifted scholars, while advising boards on strategy, commercial acceleration, and cross-border growth. We translate complex, multi-market challenges into actionable plans; building trust across functions and geographies; and delivering when stakes and speed are high.

How did the MBA help you prepare for your role?

It sharpened strategic framing, turned finance into a language of influence, and reinforced evidence-based decision-making – capabilities I now model for students, clients, and prospective MBAs. I also learnt that clarity beats complexity. Financial fluency tells the story. Community compounds opportunity. These principles guide my leadership – and they resonate strongly with candidates considering Warwick.

How did things change for you on completing your course?

My platform expanded: stronger board conversations, senior mandates in view, and greater confidence to lead at the enterprise level. I'm exploring senior roles, including family office positions that value disciplined growth and cultural intelligence.

How do you engage with WBS as an alumnus?

I mentor, guest-speak, and support open-day and offer-holder events. I stay active in regional and global groups – keeping prospects warm, connecting peers, and bringing new voices into the Warwick community. I’ve benefited from the WBS alumni communities for peer learning, introductions, and international collaboration.

What would you say to someone thinking of applying for your course at WBS?

If you want to be stretched and supported in equal measure, apply. Be specific about the change you intend to lead – and lean into the community. It's a catalyst. Protect deep-work time, treat your cohort as colleagues and friends, and use every challenge as rehearsal for impact. The rewards – clarity, capability, and community – are enduring.

What is the one phrase that sums up your time at WBS?

Stretch with purpose.

What's next for you?

Continuing to teach and advise internationally while pursuing senior and family office roles where disciplined growth, cultural intelligence, and stakeholder trust create lasting value. I'm keen to contribute to Warwick events that let prospective MBAs experience this culture first-hand.