Michael Siebers
Interview with Michael Siebers
Michael Siebers graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science in 2013 and is now CTO and managing director of Holidu GmbH in Karlsruhe
Why did you decide on this degree program?
I came to software development at an early age. At the age of 13 I started building my first websites and other products. Developing products with technologies is what I love. Fortunately, it was clear to me very early on that I wanted to study computer science.
On which field did you focus on for your studies?
For me, the time spent studying was not just the lectures and projects you have to do. Rather, I spent several years with friends and like-minded people, and we explored topics and technologies together. For me, it was clear early on that my passion was developing web products, and I focused on this as much as I could. In addition, I was able to combine very well my personal interests and the technologies that I wanted to learn about with prescribed project work.
What comes to mind when you think back to your student days at HKA?
Learning together with my friends. I made friends for life. I learned many things. Professors who believed in me and supported me. And meeting my wife at a party at the neighboring College of Education ;)
For me, the going to university is a time when you can deal very intensively and more freely than ever before in your life with topics that are very close to your own interests. You get a lot of important input. More important for me was to find out what I was passionate about, because that's what you will later pursue in one way or another throughout your life in your profession. Fortunately, I always had enough time for that, even alongside my studies.
Interpersonal relations are also particularly important to me. You have time to meet new people, to go to parties, to travel for a long time during the semester break. That's why I feel particularly sorry for the students right now, because they can't do all that.
My semester abroad in South Africa was also a particularly nice one. I can particularly recommend that. It's less about the subjects themselves and more about getting to know people from all over the world, cultures, and yourself. I was glad that the HKA supports the students very much in this.
Preparing for the exams was always a particularly intense time. I always studied together with my friends. Mostly in the empty lecture rooms at the University. Studying wasn't always fun, but you spent the time with your friends and stuck it out together. In the evening we cooked together and drank a beer, and the next day we continued. When the exams were over, we had the feeling of achieving something together. That was really great.
What experiences did you gain from your studies?
The most important thing I learned at university is the skill how to learn.
How did you fare after graduation?
I was lucky enough to work almost full-time for Zalando, at that time a small company with 50 employees, very closely with the CTO, during my last semesters while I was still studying.
My brother and I had personally experienced during that time how difficult it was to book a vacation home and how easy it was to book a hotel or flight. And so we came up with the idea to do something about this and launched "Holidu". And when I had graduated, I started working on Holidu full time. We found investors who provided us with 60 million Euros, we now have 250 employees and over 100 million users on our website.
What are your current tasks?
Due to our rapid growth, the tasks change effectively every 3 months and I have to learn constantly. If you can't do that, it's hard for the company to keep growing.
As CTO, CEO and founder, it's about defining the strategy and direction of the company. Building the departments and teams, finding the best people and setting the right goals. And helping the teams achieve their goals and helping the employees grow themselves.
What in particular do you enjoy about your work?
There are two things. One is developing products with great people and with technology that solve problems in the world. The other is that I believe that all of us humans need to work. And if I can help a lot of people have a great job where they can pursue their interests, be treated fairly, and find individual fulfillment, I have a positive impact on a lot of people around me.
In which way do your studies influence you current work?
Studying taught me how to learn new things. For me, the basics were also important, because if you understand the basics, you understand many different technologies based on them. It is very important to me that state-of-the-art technologies are taught at Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences. That's why I started teaching search engine technologies as a lecturer at the university last semester.
Would you say you have turned your hobby into a career?
Absolutely. I am very grateful for this and know that this is not a given.
How did you experience the move into self-employment?
Not difficult. I wasn't afraid or worried. When you take the step, you don't know yet that your company will actually become larger. I took the step because I thought that this is where I can learn most and, if I'm lucky, still develop a product that has an impact on millions of people.
What are the advantages and disadvantages?
One of the advantages is definitely that you can self-actualize to a certain degree. It's also great fun to work on your own "baby." You know what you're working for. However, I also feel a great obligation towards my colleagues, the investors and also the environment.
Would you do it again?
Of course.
What would you like to share with students or prospective students?
Pursue your interests. If you find out what makes you happy in your professional life, then you've made it! In the end, it all depends on the people around you. Find a job where you work on great things and where you have a good boss and really good colleagues. You'll learn an incredible amount from them.