Alumna in portrait: Noemi Christensen

Noemi Christensen studied industrial engineering at KIT. She was fascinated by the interplay between technology, business and people from an early age. Today, she heads a team for Strategic & Lean Transformation at Siemens and works at the interface of strategy, digitalization and leadership. Previously, she worked in research at CAS Software AG on product configuration and as a lecturer at Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences.

What valuable experiences and insights from your studies still shape you today?

I loved the diversity of my studies - from economics and operations research to computer science and technical subjects. This breadth sharpened my eye for interrelationships and shaped my openness to new things. This versatility still shapes my everyday life today.

I was particularly influenced by learning and working with Professor Nora Szech on behavioral economics. Her enthusiasm was contagious - we analyzed papers, discussed them critically and put research into practice. This way of thinking has stayed with me to this day.

What added value do you get from being a member of the alumni network?

So far, I've mainly used the network to stay informed about research, spin-offs and developments at KIT. At the same time, I see it as an opportunity to give something back. Supporting young people and their further development has always been close to my heart, as a tutor, thesis supervisor and today through my support of the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship. For me, the scholarship is more than just financial support. It offers an idealistic component, creates freedom and enables students to get involved or gain cultural experience. I was part of the Physics Choir at KIT for many years and think it is essential that students have the freedom to get involved outside the lecture halls and grow personally.

What is your vision for KIT?

I hope that KIT will continue to empower students to think analytically, critically and independently in this rapidly changing world, especially in the age of artificial intelligence. We need to find ways to train human intelligence in a meaningful way and use AI as a tool to create real added value: in research, in application and in dealing with the major crises of our time. KIT should remain a place where we learn to take responsibility for the future and develop the potential of new technologies for the benefit of society.