Manuela Waldner
Alumni in portrait October 2025
As CFO of ÖBB, Manuela Waldner manages multi-billion-euro budgets while driving the future of sustainable mobility. In this conversation, she shares how Austria’s railways strike a balance between ecology and economy—from green energy and major infrastructure projects to the launch of the first “green track.” She reflects on her studies at the University of Graz, international experiences, and the encounters that shaped her path. Waldner also reveals how she keeps focus in a company running thousands of projects—and why setting clear priorities matters more than sticking to rigid career plans.
Camera: www.unreifundtaube.at
Interview/Editing: Carmen Reif-Teubenbacher
More information about Manuela Waldner
Studies: Business Administration with a focus on Financial & Industrial Management at the University of Graz
Career milestones: Assistant Manager at KPMG Alpentreuhand GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungs- und Steuerberatungsgesellschaft (auditing and tax consulting firm); various positions at the Boston Consulting Group, Managing Director and Partner since 2019
Since 2023: Member of the Executive Board, Chief Financial Officer of ÖBB