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Alum of the Month - May 2017

Mareike Möhlmann.

Being a student at the Management department at LSE was a great experience and a driving force in my career.
Mareike Möhlmann

  • Programme studied: MSc Public Management and Governance
  • Year of Graduation: 2010
  • LinkedIn profile

We picked Mareike as Alum of the Month for May because of her fascinating research interests and her varied career path . Having previously worked for the United Nations, Mareike has since gone on to research in the fields such as design thinking and digital innovation. Read her work on why we're more likely to trust strangers than our colleagues.

What’s your current job?

I am a full time-faculty member at Warwick Business School, where I work as an Assistant Professor in Information Systems and Management. Alongside conducting academic research, I teach modules such as design thinking, digital innovation, or digital business technologies to students at Warwick Business School. 

Where have you worked previously?

Previously, I worked as a research scientist at the Stern School of Business (New York University), and a research assistant at the University of Hamburg, where I also obtained my doctoral degree. Before starting my career in academia I worked for the United Nations (UNEP) in New York on topics related to sustainable development, climate change, and the green economy. Next to my M.Sc. degree from LSE, I hold a B.A. from Ludwig-Maximillians-University (LMU) in Munich, and studied at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques (Sciences Po) in Paris. 

What areas do you focus on in your research?

I conduct research in the field of information systems management. I draw on interdisciplinary perspectives such as marketing (online consumer behaviour), and social issues in management. Most of my current research focuses on the management of digital technologies, different forms of online services, collaborative consumption, or so-called "sharing economy" services, (peer-to-peer) platforms, and digital trust. Among others, I worked with data from users of car-sharing offers (car2go), accommodation sharing services (Airbnb), online dating apps, and ride-sharing platforms (BlaBlaCar).


What drove you to work in academia and what advice would you give to someone who wishes to follow a similar path?

I love my job, because I learn something new almost every day. I like to be curious, explore innovative topics for my research, conduct joint research with people from around the world, collaborate with interesting industry partners, and work with students (they keep you young). If you seek a career in academia you might consider taking some research method classes to find out if you are passionate about research (or not). 

How has the programme you studied had an impact on who you are today?

Being a student at the Management department at LSE was a great experience and a driving force in my career. I remember that I was exposed to so many choices: electing modules from a bunch of interesting options, getting involved in a variety of student organizations, and attending frequent guest lectures held by high-level industry or government representatives. I could choose the options best suited to my interests, or alternatively try something completely new. I still like to be exposed to diverse perspectives, topics, people, and ways of thinking. 

The experience with my fellow students was really important: we were such a diverse group of people from all around the world. I feel being a student at LSE was one crucial building block for my internationally oriented career. No wonder I ended up working for the United Nations in New York and accepting a job in the United Kingdom. 

What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment to date?

That question is not easy to answer! The greatest accomplishments in life are not about work but about relationships. I am grateful for my family and friends and for all of the opportunities I have had in life.

Since this question probably refers to career accomplishments: I would argue is my current position at Warwick Business School, which I really like. Furthermore, my research has been published by different international academic journals, was picked up by media outlets, was presented at numerous international conferences, and received a number of awards and grants. Check out my profile at Warwick Business School for more information.