{"id":22664,"date":"2017-10-23T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-10-23T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/?p=22664"},"modified":"2025-02-19T12:13:11","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T10:13:11","slug":"eu-alumnus-of-the-month-bernie-stefan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/eu-alumnus-of-the-month-bernie-stefan\/","title":{"rendered":"EU Alumni: Bernie Stefan"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bernie Stefan is\u00a0a man of principle, passion, dedication and drive.\u00a0The EU Business School alumnus and vice president of Nestl\u00e9 Asia\u00a0has\u00a0thrived in challenges throughout\u00a0his eclectic career. His work has taken him to six countries across three continents, including cities such as Beijing, Paris, Munich and Melbourne. Who says working 17 years for the same company\u00a0has to be boring?<\/p>\n

Learning to lead<\/h2>\n

The turn of the millennium\u00a0marked a new beginning for\u00a0Bernie.\u00a0After his studies,\u00a0EU’s networking opportunities, innovative education and connections\u00a0helped to launch his career.<\/p>\n

I studied an MBA at EU Montreux\u00a0and graduated in the summer of 2000.\u00a0It was a great experience and I have very fond memories of my time there. Studying at EU opens your mind. Not only do you get a chance to learn about other cultures,\u00a0but you also\u00a0make many\u00a0connections. Some of\u00a0the people I met at\u00a0EU\u00a0remain close friends to this day.<\/p>\n

The style of teaching is very practical and prepares you for life. During a lot of my\u00a0studies elsewhere,\u00a0the style of education was rigid. Students just listened, didn\u2019t challenge or debate. At EU we asked questions, collaborated and interacted. Critical thinking was a crucial part of the learning process.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

17 years, 6 countries, 3 continents, 1 company<\/h2>\n

One of EU Business School’s corporate partners, Nestl\u00e9,\u00a0saw Bernie’s potential. The decision to hire him\u00a0paid off\u00a0in a big way.<\/p>\n

Due to EU\u2019s connection with Nestl\u00e9, I managed to get an internship and then permanent employment. If you’d have asked me then if I’d be working for the same company 17 years later, I’d have\u00a0laughed at you! Two or three years, maximum, I thought.<\/p>\n

But in 17 years at Nestl\u00e9\u00a0I have worked in 6 countries over 3 continents. I’ve\u00a0implemented strategic initiatives,\u00a0overseen distribution, been general manager and\u00a0operations director, and directed major acquisitions projects. I\u2019ve had the opportunity to do different things in different cultures, to experience the world. I’ve kept my job fresh and interesting.<\/p>\n

At the end of the day you need to be passionate. You have to enjoy your job. Otherwise what\u2019s the point? If, on my way to work\u00a0in the morning, I\u2019m thinking “Oh no! Not another day!” then there\u2019s a problem. But\u00a0if I’m not happy, then it’s my responsibility to change that.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The times they are a changin’<\/h2>\n

Bernie has a keen interest in the changing business landscape. With society being transformed by advances in technology and shifting methodologies, he is well aware of the challenges facing companies in the 21st century.<\/p>\n

We live in interesting times. The challenges facing businesses nowadays are in stark contrast to just a couple of decades ago. When I started, the dotcom boom was in its infancy.\u00a0There was a desperation to take advantage of\u00a0the opportunities that were offered by this new way of doing things. And then the bust came. Now there is a much more level playing ground.<\/p>\n

Previously, large businesses had a lot of leverage. They had capital, they had a monopoly on marketing and\u00a0access to a huge customer base. Today, with the internet, it\u2019s much more democratic. If you have an idea, you have the platform to succeed like never before. This creates a faster, more agile environment and a different set of challenges.<\/p>\n

One challenge is how to attract exciting new talent. People\u2019s demands are different nowadays. You need to offer them something other than financial rewards.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

How to shine in modern times<\/h2>\n

So, with the business world constantly evolving, what qualities are needed to be successful in the 21st century?<\/p>\n

Without a doubt, key attributes have changed so much over the years. I look for people who are curious.\u00a0Those who\u00a0can adapt\u00a0to working in\u00a0a changing environment.<\/p>\n

Business today is less defined, less static.\u00a0This is a reflection of the world at large. Things don\u2019t just follow linear processes. I find it fascinating, the changes that have taken place.<\/p>\n

But within these changes, company values are still key. The younger generation may have different expectations, but they must still\u00a0be aligned with the values of companies. The way to have a successful career is to follow these values.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The tenacity of the\u00a0multi-talented<\/h2>\n

It’s one thing to master a specific area of expertise.\u00a0For Bernie, it’s the extraordinary\u00a0few striving\u00a0for new challenges who stand out.<\/p>\n

The people that impress me the most are those who achieve success in many different areas. It’s one thing to\u00a0work your way to the top in one discipline, but to excel across a variety is\u00a0what makes someone special.\u00a0These people have\u00a0a constant drive to renew themselves. There may be many examples of these individuals,\u00a0but the one who immediately comes to mind\u00a0is Arnold Schwarzenegger. And not just because we’re both Austrian!<\/p>\n

He’s been a professional bodybuilder, an author, an actor, a\u00a0producer, a\u00a0businessman, an\u00a0investor,\u00a0an activist and\u00a0a politician. If it wasn’t for the clause in the American constitution he’d probably run for president! Like I said, there’ll are\u00a0many examples. But he’s the one\u00a0who comes to mind.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/h2>\n

Bernie’s words of wisdom<\/h2>\n

During his studies at EU Business School and over his 17 years at Nestl\u00e9, Bernie has acquired the capabilities and the\u00a0necessary\u00a0mentality to make an impact. He has some tips for the young, ambitious leaders of tomorrow:<\/p>\n

Be passionate. If you don\u2019t have passion you can\u2019t succeed. There will always be others who want to succeed and you will be surpassed.<\/p>\n

Be flexible and have an open mind. Be agile. The world is less linear and is constantly changing. It\u2019s never been as important is it is today to learn and to be able to adapt. The world changes, even in the time it takes to complete your studies. You need to be able to keep up.<\/p>\n

You have to know how to engage with people. And you have to know that you can\u2019t do it by yourself. You are always part of a team and you rely on others to have success.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/h2>\n

Work to live<\/h2>\n

Life outside of work is precious. For Bernie, having a good work\/life balance is paramount to enjoying life.<\/p>\n

I have a wife and I have two sons, aged six and ten. Family time is very important to me. As a family, we spend a lot of time together. We all love sports, particularly skiing. I used to compete in triathlons, so now\u00a0I try to maintain my fitness. I enjoy cooking. And I enjoy a glass or two of wine.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s very important to keep a balance and enjoy life outside of work. I work long hours and check emails at the weekends, things you\u2019re told you\u2019re not supposed to do. But\u00a0it doesn\u2019t make me feel stressed. I have a good work life balance. And as long as that continues, I’ll be saying “Yes! Another day!” every morning on my way to work.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Discover what it’s like studying at a top business school.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bernie Stefan is\u00a0a man of principle, passion, dedication and drive.\u00a0The EU Business School alumnus and vice president of Nestl\u00e9 Asia\u00a0has\u00a0thrived in challenges throughout\u00a0his eclectic career. His work has taken him to six countries across three continents, including cities such as Beijing, Paris, Munich and Melbourne. Who says working 17 years for the same company\u00a0has to be boring? Learning to lead The turn of the millennium\u00a0marked a new beginning for\u00a0Bernie.\u00a0After his studies,\u00a0EU’s networking opportunities, innovative education and connections\u00a0helped to launch his career. I studied an MBA at EU Montreux\u00a0and graduated in the summer of 2000.\u00a0It was a great experience and I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":34577,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[636,671],"tags":[1612,1613,1055],"class_list":["post-22664","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-study-business-in-switzerland","tag-bernie-stefan","tag-mba-at-top-business-school","tag-nestle","post--single"],"yoast_head":"\r\nEU Alumni: Bernie Stefan | EU Business School<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"EU Business School alumnus and vice president of Nestle Asia Bernie Stefan talks about how to be successful in modern business.\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/eu-alumnus-of-the-month-bernie-stefan\/\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"EU Business School\" \/>\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.euruni.edu\\\/blog\\\/eu-alumnus-of-the-month-bernie-stefan\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"EU Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.euruni.edu\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"EU Community\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.euruni.edu\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/eu-business-school-community\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"EU Business School\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.euruni.edu\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/eu-business-school-community\\\/alumni\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"EU Alumni: Bernie Stefan\"}]}]}<\/script>\r\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"EU Alumni: Bernie Stefan | EU Business School","description":"EU Business School alumnus and vice president of Nestle Asia Bernie Stefan talks about how to be successful in modern business.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/eu-alumnus-of-the-month-bernie-stefan\/","author":"EU Business School","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/eu-alumnus-of-the-month-bernie-stefan\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"EU Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"EU Community","item":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/category\/eu-business-school-community\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"EU Business School","item":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/category\/eu-business-school-community\/alumni\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"EU Alumni: Bernie Stefan"}]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22664","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22664"}],"version-history":[{"count":51,"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22664\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39767,"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22664\/revisions\/39767"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34577"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22664"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22664"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22664"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}