Andreas Feil

Study programmes: Information Management Automotive (B. Sc.) (opens in a new window) / Master Business Management (M.Sc.) an der Steinbeis School of Management and Innovation

Employer: BMW Group

Position: Functional Safety Manager


Straightforward or via detours: what was your school career like and what interests did you have as a younger person?
My school career was characterised by curiosity and an unconventional path. After leaving technical secondary school, I started studying automotive engineering in Ulm. However, I soon realised that I wanted to combine theory with more practice - and decided to train as an automotive mechatronics technician with a focus on rallying and classic car technology. This phase was formative for me: it not only deepened my passion for technology, but also showed me how important it is to combine historical values with modern innovation.

With this practical foundation behind me, my path led me to Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences (HNU), where I completed a Bachelor's degree in "Information Management Automotive". The degree programme opened doors to new worlds for me - for example to an unforgettable 7-month stay in the USA, where I worked as a project engineer for the BMW Group. This experience was a real enrichment not only professionally but also personally: intercultural co-operation, technical challenges and the adventure of proving myself in a new environment.

After my Bachelor's degree, I wanted to deepen my enthusiasm for creative problem solving and technological innovation. That's why I decided to enrol on the Master's degree programme in Innovation Management and Digital Transformation. I found the research on target groups and markets particularly fascinating - for me, a perfect interplay of technology and people.

Between 2019 and 2022, however, a physical stroke of fate and a burnout forced me to rethink my life. This challenging time gave rise to a vision: the idea of a health market that combines naturopathy, food, knowledge transfer and a café for exchange. I put my heart and soul into implementing this start-up idea, organised speaker events with up to 100 participants, gave talks and developed a concept for a digital platform.

Even though the company ultimately failed, I see this phase as my greatest success. The experiences and lessons I learnt during this time still shape me today.

Today, I work with great enthusiasm at the BMW Group in Munich as a Functional Safety Manager. In this innovative environment, I not only contribute my technical expertise, but also the entrepreneurial skills and perspectives that I have gained along the way.


What tips can you give young people who are looking for the right degree programme?
A difficult question - and one to which there is no universal answer. I think the key lies in striking a balance between "just go for it" and "consciously take your time".

The decision for a degree programme should not be rushed, but neither should it be endlessly delayed. It should mature - in a sustainable and qualified way. My tip: Concentrate on your personal talents, interests and strengths. Ask yourself: What topics excite me? What do I want to achieve later in my career? And which degree programme will give me the tools to realise this goal?

What I would like to emphasise from my own experience: Have the courage to make corrections! Failure in a degree programme is not failure in life - it is rather an opportunity for reorientation. Much more valuable than stubborn ambition is the ability to recognise what really suits you and what does not. Consciously leaving a wrong path is often the first step in the right direction.

Ultimately, one thing counts: joy and passion for what you do. This is the only way to avoid losing your drive in the long term - both during your studies and later in your career.


What experiences during your studies have had a particular impact on you?
My start to my studies was a little unusual: I only started in the second semester, as the new degree programme had a delayed start due to low enrolment numbers. However, this situation also had its advantages. The small group size allowed for a close, almost informal atmosphere and I quickly made friends with fellow students who already had experience of studying. This supportive environment made my start much easier.

Meeting Professor Dr Dehnert was particularly formative for me. His perspectives and pedagogical approach not only gave me a lot professionally, but also personally. He managed to combine theory and practice in such a way that you not only understood, but also learnt with enthusiasm. His way of teaching had a lasting impact on my view of knowledge and learning.

Of course, the HNU parties and events on campus were also unforgettable moments. Whether summer parties or winter events - they offered the perfect opportunity to take a deep breath after a tough period of exams and enjoy the community. This balance between academic challenges and social highlights made my studies a special time.


Please describe your day-to-day work. Which projects do you work on and which tasks do you particularly enjoy?
As Functional Safety Manager at the BMW Group, I shape the future of mobility safely - in the truest sense of the word. My work covers a broad spectrum: from analysing hardware and software to integrating and safeguarding the entire component network of a vehicle. While some might say that a car "just has to drive", my job is to ensure that it does so safely under all conditions.

My focus is on realising the requirements for vehicles in such a way that they not only meet the latest safety standards, but also exceed them. I always think holistically: every part, every component - especially in the area of high-voltage technology - is tested to ensure that it cannot cause any harm to the occupants.

I particularly appreciate the close collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, the combination of detailed technical work and strategic decisions. I am enthusiastic about developing solutions that not only safeguard the current state of the art, but also enable future innovations.

My job is not just of a technical nature - it is a responsibility towards the people travelling in these vehicles. This awareness is what drives me and makes my day-to-day work so fulfilling.


Stressful or child's play: what was your internship semester like and what tasks did you take on?
In the middle of the exam phase in the winter semester 2015/16, I received a surprising phone call that would have a lasting impact on my life. The question was: "Can you imagine accepting an internship in the USA in eight weeks at the latest?" The location: Spartanburg, South Carolina, for the BMW Group. Without hesitation, I accepted - and thus began one of the most exciting and intensive phases of my life to date.

The weeks that followed were characterised by rapid organisation: visa applications, travel preparations and the completion of my exams. But the effort was worth it. At the beginning of March, I was on site in time for the start of the project and immersed myself in a professional and cultural adventure that gave me unique insights.

During my six-month stay, I had the opportunity to travel to 19 out of 50 states - both professionally and privately. Every encounter and experience, from working with colleagues to talking to complete strangers, broadened my horizons.

My tasks were as varied as they were challenging. As an assistant to the project manager, I took on a wide range of organisational and strategic tasks. However, my practical roots as a trained automotive mechatronics technician were not left unutilised: I was often allowed to lend a hand myself and contribute my technical expertise.

I am particularly proud of the development of a cloud-based system for vehicle registration using barcodes. This system helped to efficiently load vehicles onto large container ships at ports such as Miami, Portland or Newark - a task that required both precision and an innovative spirit.

This time was a mixture of intensive work, cultural discoveries and personal growth. It not only showed me what is possible when you take opportunities with courage, but also how important it is to be flexible, solution-orientated and open to new things.


What is your advice to all graduates who are looking for their first job?
My most important piece of advice: "Just start walking." Your first job doesn't have to be the perfect dream job straight away - it's more about gaining experience and trying things out. When you're studying, you often still enjoy a certain warmth of the nest, but the leap into professional life requires courage and flexibility. It's perfectly fine if your first job isn't 100% right - the important thing is that it takes you a step forward.

Set yourself ambitious but achievable goals. At the time, I asked myself the question: "Where do I want to be in two years?" This question helped me to strategically plan my path. The key is to have a clear direction in mind, but at the same time remain open to surprises and detours.

For me, it was never crucial to see a destination solely as an end point. Rather, it's about actively shaping the way there. This process - the system you build, the decisions you make and the experiences you gain - will shape you and take you further in the long term.

Have the courage to start and the patience to develop. Your first job is not the end of your career, but the beginning of an exciting journey.


What was your first job like and how did you hear about it?
My first job resulted directly from my bachelor's thesis. In it, I analysed how the digitalisation of the automotive industry - using the example of car sharing - requires a completely new way of thinking and a changed corporate culture. Shortly after completing my degree, I took on disciplinary project responsibility for precisely this topic: the IT backend of DriveNow, the BMW Group's car sharing service at the time.

The role was an exciting and demanding challenge. The 24/7 support, which was to ensure the smooth operation of the system worldwide, was particularly formative. This meant that my team and I were working around the clock to solve problems quickly and ensure a trouble-free service. This responsibility demanded a lot from us - both professionally and mentally.

Looking back, this first job was more than just an introduction to professional life. It showed me how important teamwork, resilience and a clear focus on solutions are. At the same time, I realised how crucial it is to continuously develop yourself in order to be successful in dynamic and challenging environments.


What experiences from your studies at HNU have proved valuable in your professional life?
"Nothing is eaten as hot as it is cooked" - this sentence describes one of the most important lessons I learnt during my studies. The intensive preparation for exams, often characterised by challenging and uncertain questions, forced me to think outside the box and translate theory into practice. This training in transfer thinking has helped me enormously in my professional life to quickly grasp complex topics and act in a solution-orientated manner.

I found the interdisciplinary nature of the programme particularly valuable. The overlaps between different subject areas showed me how important it is to recognise connections and apply specialist knowledge flexibly. The feeling of not only having passed an exam, but having really understood it, was a great moment of success - similar to solving complex projects in my day-to-day work.

But it wasn't just the specialised training that shaped me. The dialogue with fellow students and lecturers, working together on projects and inspiring others with new ideas - all this showed me how crucial the human factor is for success. Ultimately, it is these skills that have helped me to progress both in my studies and in my career.


What professional goals are you pursuing for your future?
I want to remain true to myself in the future and continue on my own path. I want to utilise my talents in innovative environments, pass on my experience from dynamic, international projects and combine my enjoyment of teaching and inspiring lectures with my affinity for research.

My goal is to utilise all of these aspects in a profitable way - both for myself and for others. In the best-case scenario, I will one day succeed in doing so through a co-operation between the BMW Group and a university like HNU. That would be an ideal combination for me to fully utilise my passion for innovation, knowledge transfer and interdisciplinary collaboration.


How would you complete the beginning of the following sentence?
HNU... “stands for a time that I look back on with pride and joy. It was not only a place of learning, but also of encounters, inspiration and further development. At the same time, I see it as an institution that I would like to return to one day - to support knowledge-hungry students on their path, to inspire them to think and to accompany them in their research and discovery.”