“I’m delighted to receive this honor from my alma mater. WU has come a long way, from the Imperial Export Academy to the University of World Trade to today’s WU, a leading international economic sciences hub at this incomparable campus, and I’m really impressed by this development. I have nothing but beautiful memories of my own student days in Vienna,” says Christopher Schläffer.

The award ceremony will be followed by a “WU matters. WU talks.” event entitled “The Economics of Equality,” where Schläffer will address the question of how we can achieve a more just society without structural barriers, stigmatization, and exclusion. The event will include a discussion featuring panelists Anjhula Bais, chair of the International Board of Amnesty International, and Pritzker Prize winning architect Rem Koolhaas.

An award in recognition of outstanding dedication and vision

The WU Manager of the Year award is WU’s way of honoring alumni who have shown outstanding dedication and vision in their careers and have earned special merits in supporting the development of their own companies and the economy as a whole. “Christopher Schläffer is one of the key players shaping the future of the internet. Since graduating from WU, his career has focused on driving the development of technologies and artificial intelligence. His personality is a unique combination of an eagerness to explore new avenues, sharp strategic skills, and a strong sense of responsibility. WU is proud of its successful alumnus,” says WU Rector Edeltraud Hanappi-Egger.

About Christopher Schläffer 

Christopher Schläffer (CEO of the London-based technology company NYOUM) has a long-standing career in the international technology sector, holding top positions at Accenture, Deutsche Telekom, and T-Online. He served as Deutsche Telekom’s Chief Strategist and Chief Product & Innovation Officer for over a decade, driving the company’s growth strategy in Europe and the US. He played a key role in launching the Android operating system, and went on to found the technology company NYOUM, which is developing a contextual internet. As member of the International Board of Amnesty International and also in a series of other roles, Christopher Schläffer has shown exemplary social responsibility at the service of human rights and equal opportunities.

WU Manager of the Year 2022 award ceremony as part of the “WU matters. WU talks.” event on “The Economics of Equality” 

Date: Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Location: Campus WU, LC building, Ceremonial Hall 1
Welthandelsplatz 1, 1020 Vienna

Words of welcome: Edeltraud Hanappi-Egger, Rector

Lecture:Christopher Schläffer, Founder and CEO, NYOUM

Panel discussion:

• Anjhula Mya Singh Bais, Chair of the International Board, Amnesty International

• Karin Heitzmann, Co-Head of the Research Institute for Economics of Inequality, WU

• Rem Koolhaas, Founding Partner at OMA, Professor in Practice at GSD/Harvard University

Moderated by:

Rainer Nowak, Editor-in-Chief, Die Presse

To attend, please sign up for the event at wu.at/matters-wu-manager by November 7, 2022.

Contact:
Melanie Hacker
PR Manager
WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business)
Tel.: + 43-1-31336-5964
Email: melanie.hacker@wu.ac.at