The speed of technological development means that no one truly knows how the workplace will change over the coming years. But having a strong foundation in tech can help a business gain a competitive edge in the face of disruption. Sometimes, it turns out, reinforcing the most basic business skills can be the most helpful advantage of all.
Nicole Haenel (’25SPS), CEO and founder of a holding company in Germany, joined Columbia’s M.S. in Technology Management (TMGT) program to better understand the U.S. market. Despite her many years of experience and evident success in business, there was still plenty to learn or re-learn—even about the fundamentals.
“The set of tools I refined at Columbia—frameworks, governance, and 'basic' business administration skills—helps me navigate better through these very disruptive times and also see opportunities quicker than others,” Haenel told SPS in a recent interview.
Read the full interview below.
Tell us a bit about your background.
I began my career as a journalist in the Middle East after studying political science—driven by both adventure and a desire to understand political contexts firsthand. I later transitioned into online journalism, where I developed software skills and applied them to corporate communications. From there, I shifted to digital agencies. Though never a “techie,” I was fascinated by using the right tools for maximum efficiency. I went on to serve as CEO of several companies before founding my own. Today, I own a holding with seven companies across three countries.
What brought you to the TMGT program?
I started an online MBA in Germany to strengthen my role as founder and CEO, but much of the content was already familiar. As our international expansion began, I spent time in the U.S. to better understand its culture and market. I became interested in continuing my MBA at Columbia and spending a semester in New York. When the TMGT faculty introduced me to their online program, its hands-on approach—real-life cases, industry leaders, and faculty with deep tech expertise—won me over.
Can you speak about your current position as a founder and CEO? How does technology management contribute to leading a holding company?
Our topics are directly connected to the latest developments in deep tech and AI. Our company has maintained a leading position in our industry by staying on top of these developments and adapting to the latest technologies. I’m still not the tech expert in our company, nor the CTO or chief of AI. Our leadership team is astute enough to recognize our limitations and hire individuals with more experience than we have, ensuring we maintain our leading position.
I joined the TMGT program because I wanted to learn more about the actual technology behind our services, which would enable me to make more informed and timely decisions regarding new developments, such as integrating more AI to automate internal processes. Through my studies, I learned how to evaluate those processes, keep ethics and governance in mind, and take the team with me on this journey. The way the program embeds technology into “soft skills” helped me better integrate these topics into my daily work.
What were the most impactful lessons from your time in the TMGT program?
By spending so much time with my cohort of highly skilled individuals from various industries and fantastic faculty members, I learned that the differences in business cultures between Europe and the U.S. are more pronounced than I anticipated. Entrepreneurs are perceived differently in the U.S. People are less critical of them, and they are held in higher regard for their achievements. But the expectations placed on them are also higher.
I also learned to use frameworks more often in my daily business, including evaluating new tools, conducting risk management analyses, and setting up new teams for projects. Before the program, I relied much more on my gut feeling. Now I have the tools to test my assumptions.
What stuck with me the most were the connections I was fortunate enough to make through the program. The faculty and students I met broadened my horizons. Being an entrepreneur can be a lonely experience, but being part of a tribe at Columbia gave me a sense of belonging.
Given the rapid pace of technological change and new tools being implemented in the workplace, what lessons from your own experience can you share with others following your path?
Developments in AI are breaking all our expectations about the speed of change. To be honest, nobody knows where we’ll all be in five years, or how the world—especially the tech world—will look. Will AI foster more solopreneurs, or will the big tech giants get even bigger and more powerful? How will it impact us? Do we need to create software with our developer team in the future? Are we, as a whole, obsolete? Is it possible to change and adapt fast enough?
The lesson I learned from my own experience is: internal processes, in particular, always take longer and are more expensive than expected. You need to get your team on board and have a handful of good advisors. Selecting the right ones for your purpose is the art.
About the Program
Columbia University’s Master of Science in Technology Management is a hands-on technology leadership development program designed to train professionals for equal fluency in tech fundamentals, business operations, and ethical leadership.
The program is available for part-time or full-time enrollment. Learn more about the program here.
