Arnold Kienreich & Adrian Zagler (Chapter BERLIN)
Arnold Kienreich "I've always been very open and enjoy meeting new people. At the same time, I worked for the ÖH during my business studies in Graz, and later for an internal, international organization that makes it easier for new employees to integrate into the company." With these experiences and prerequisites, Arnold Kienreich is a perfect networker and chapter leader. Together with Adrian Zagler, he heads the BERLIN chapter, where he relocated from Klagenfurt in 2006. "Since I was not able to develop according to my wishes at my former employer, I was looking for something new. I wanted to move to a bigger city again, and that's when the idea of going to Berlin came up. I was fascinated by how this city is constantly on the move. Since electronic music interests me a lot, that was also an important reason."
After gaining experience as an employee, Arnold Kienreich decided to become self-employed and is active in various entrepreneurial fields. His latest project is a platform for live online cooking courses. For Arnold, networking has always been important: "Building up a network during your studies and taking advantage of study abroad opportunities can be worth its weight in gold later on. I also think it's important to always develop yourself. We all have limiting beliefs, fears and blockages that need to be resolved." For Adrian Zagler, the well-known saying probably applies: First things don't happen, second things don't happen. Because Adrian actually only wanted to go to Berlin for a short internship - that was eight years ago by now! "Yes, that's right. I went to Berlin after completing my first degree in English - originally for an internship. It was clear to me at the time: as much as I love and appreciate Graz, I wanted to live in another place and broaden my horizons after my semester abroad in Scotland. Due to my intended job, I searched mainly in German-speaking countries and the acceptance from Berlin came first. Besides, I knew the city from a previous visit and could imagine staying there for a few months." Professionally, the communications expert works as a press officer for the Association of Physicians in Private Practice. But his communicative streak also serves him well in his volunteer work as a chapter leader: "I know how grateful you are when you make connections in a new environment. When you get tips, when you simply hear your own dialect again." He shares the chapter leadership with Arnold Kienreich: "Arnold and I met at the inauguration of Chapter BERLIN and immediately hit it off. Two or three years later, when the alumni network asked us if we would like to take over the leadership because the former leader had left Berlin, we didn't think twice. We wanted to make the chapter more active. Up until Corona, I think we succeeded quite well." And now it will surely succeed again!
Our travel tips
Arnold Kienreich: On the top floor of the Telekom high-rise building at Ernst-Reuter-Platz is a cafeteria of the TU refectory. From here you have a wonderful view over the city. It's free, of course, and the coffee is correspondingly cheap. Since there is no closing time in Berlin, you can find quite a few places that are open 24/7. One of them is the Schwarze Café in Kantstraße, another one is one of the oldest pubs in Berlin, the "Zum Hecht" in Kaiser-Friedrich-Straße. If you want restaurant tips, you can stop by my food blog "Vegans And Friends".
Adrian Zagler: Karaoke! On Sundays in the summer afternoons in Mauerpark in the amphitheater. There you sit in the sun and listen to people from all over the world singing. And even if you don't hit the notes, the audience is always nice and everyone has fun. On all other days, Monster Ronson's on Warschauer Straße is the hip karaoke address. There you can also rent your own booth with friends and sing (off-key) to yourself until you're hoarse.