MCI Opening of the Academic Year 2024: A Festive Start with 1,400 New Students and High-Profile Guests

1,400 first-year students at Congress Innsbruck | Talks by Intel® Executive Vice President & CTO Greg Lavender and Dynafit CEO and extreme mountaineer Benedikt Böhm

At the start of every academic year, MCI | The Entrepreneurial School^® welcomes its new students at a celebratory MCI Welcome Event. In addition to important information about their studies, this year’s event featured high-caliber lectures, discussions, and valuable exchanges with professors, fellow students, service departments, and the ÖH MCI, creating a perfect atmosphere for the beginning of the new semester at the fully packed Dogana Hall at Congress Innsbruck.

Following the welcome speeches by the Deputy Head of the MCI Academic Council, Claudia Mössenlechner, and ÖH MCI Chairperson Julian Pfurtscheller, MCI Rector Andreas Altmann extended a warm welcome to the 1,400 first-year students: “You are among the fortunate ones who succeeded in the admissions process, which saw 4,500 applicants from around the world. Take this opportunity, set ambitious goals, take responsibility, and shape the future. I wish you great success in realizing your dreams!”

The event continued with inspiring speeches and discussions featuring top international business figures:

• Greg Lavender, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Intel, Santa Clara, CA, delivered a lecture titled “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants,” which explored the evolution of computing from the ideas of Pythagoras, through the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, to modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things. He encouraged the young audience not to be deterred by challenging circumstances: “Every new technology and change presents great opportunities for bold and ambitious young people. The future is yours!”
• Benedikt Böhm, CEO of Dynafit, extreme mountaineer, and WWF Ambassador, captivated the students with his talk “Out of the Death Zone – Succeeding in Mountaineering and Business.” He drew striking parallels between his two passions, extreme sports—scaling 8,000-meter peaks and skiing down without supplemental oxygen—and running his business. He emphasized that the key to success lies in proper preparation, the art of minimalism, precisely coordinated steps, and quick adaptability—whether in the mountains or in business.

The event concluded with a lively get-together, offering students the chance to network, exchange ideas, and discuss exciting plans for their studies, careers, and entrepreneurial ventures.