Jan Evler, Head of Innovation Management, AeroGround

To help current students and recent graduates navigate the world of work, several USI Alumni shared their career paths and career story. Here the story of Jan Evler, Head of Innovation Management in AeroGround in Munich (D). USI Degree: Master in International Tourism, 2017.

How did you start your career?

After USI, I worked as Research Associate at TU Dresden in Germany and completed my PhD in Transport Engineering on the subject of optimizing airline operations in the event of schedule disruptions.

Why did you choose a career in AeroGround?

After four years of theoretical work during my PhD, I felt it was time to bring my ideas into reality in order to test their validity. The whole aviation industry was/is suffering from efficiency deficits after the pandemic, such that it was a good time and most stakeholders are open to (digital) innovations. Especially Munich Airport is among the leading airports in Europe when it comes to process expertise and customer experience - so I felt that this is the best place for me to develop something great.

What is your current role/duties?

My role as Head of Innovation Management and Operational Analytics for the local ground handling company is very strategic and includes mainly the management of innovation and digitisation projects, such as the implementation of new applications for our personnel to register their work progress, a new infotainment system in our passenger busses, a camera-based status recognition system based on KI or the research on autonomous vehicles and passenger bridges on the airport apron.

In your opinion, what are the qualities necessary for a successful career in AeroGround?

You need very good structural thinking to comprehend the complex interdependencies among processes at an airport and very good data analytics skills to make use of the tons of data that are recorded during our operations. A certain degree of IT system architecture and aviation management is also beneficial to be a good product owner who is able to tell IT developers what is expected of them.

What positive aspects and qualities meant most to you during the study programme you attended?

Very applied teaching style, constant feedback on methodology and stimulation for critical thinking in a multicultural context.

What competences and/or skills acquired in your USI Study Program have been useful/are useful to your professional career?

USI teaches you an analytical and strategic mind-set that helps in approaching business models and to apply best-practices across different industries. Many projects during the courses help you to organise yourself with various personalities and teach you presentation skills and intercultural communication.

What is your advice to USI students entering the job market?

Better wait for your job to be the one where you feel a good fit rather than going for the first option or the money - you always feel in the first interview whether its a match on the personal side or not - unfortunately you cannot judge before that interview either, so test yourself with applications in different directions and try to see how the companies treats its people and in which direction you can develop inside the company.