Dr. Michael Müller-Wünsch: “It's all about knowing what cyber security is!”

The decision: sports or technology?

He actually wanted to become a sports physician, MüWü explains. After all, sport was and still is an important part of his life: from soccer at national level to tennis in the competitive squad to golf as a balance to everyday working life. However, around 40 years ago, the healthcare industry was on the rise and the prospect of a permanent position in the sports medicine sector was rather poor. “When I was sitting at the careers advice center and was asked what I liked to do apart from sport, the answer was clear: IT”. And so it was that MüWü followed his second passion as a young man and began studying computer science in Berlin in 1980 - just as the very first PC appeared on the market. "But I was never a gamer. I was less interested in programming at night," smiles MüWü. So while his fellow students are glued to their consoles at night, MüWü pursues his passion for sport even while studying IT. “I don't regret my decision, even though I find the field of digitalized sports medicine particularly exciting.” And he is also interested in other areas: the IT graduate from Berlin studied law for a semester in between until he was drawn back to core informatics. “That's where I ended up, and it has shaped the rest of my life.”

The step into research

"You can imagine the situation on the IT labor market in the 1980s as being similar to today: Techies were taken with a kiss. It was not uncommon for fellow students to drop out of university due to job offers," recalls MüWü. He also worked in the IT sector during his studies. However, he was far more interested in innovative and research-oriented topics. Keyword: artificial intelligence. And so MüWü started his research in the field of AI in 1982 and studied business administration at the same time. As part of his doctoral thesis, he then combined business administration and artificial intelligence: for eleven years, he researched the question of how corporate strategies can be developed with the help of artificial intelligence. And he did so successfully, as the models developed together with teams of experts and researchers were later put into practice. “And then I almost became a professor,” MüWü adds in conclusion, revealing that he ultimately turned to business after receiving a job offer.

About opportunities not missed

The path into business took the father of three from Herlitz to myToys and TNT - always with a focus on IT. But MüWü cannot completely put aside his passion for research. He taught as a university lecturer on the side, until one day he became a professor after all. “The idea of ‘being a professor’ stayed with me for many years and so I took the plunge in 2010 - only to realize that it wasn't for me,” laughs MüWü. So after two years, he returned to the industry. "The good thing about the story is: I don't look back on any missed opportunities today." And that is also his appeal to others: "Try out things that interest you. It's better to try something out, gain experience and then realize that it's not right than to regret a missed opportunity later."

From Cologne to Hamburg

Back in industry, after a stop in Cologne as IT Director at Lekkerland, MüWü moved to OTTO in 2015, where the position of CIO on the Management Board was newly created for him. "The prospect of transforming a traditional company appealed to me. I saw the potential and believed that I could make a difference here," says MüWü. This began with a change process in IT: while the tech sector used to be seen more as a service provider or supplier, MüWü has ensured that business and IT are thought of and experienced together. "You can feel the spirit of OTTO-Tech today. How we as a company approach things in a new and different way".

The mission: Digital education for all – from an early age

Anyone scrolling through MüWü's LinkedIn channel will quickly discover two topics close to his heart: Digital education from an early age and Women in Tech. As part of his voluntary work, he is campaigning for computer science to become a school subject. "I'm stunned that after around 40 years of IT, there is such a lack of knowledge about digitalization and IT in Germany. Digital literacy is lagging behind in our country, but if we want to master social challenges, we need technological support - and many people are still afraid of that." MüWü wants to give people a different approach to technology, to create understanding and comprehensibility. For the Tech Director, however, this means more than just operating a smartphone: "It's about knowing and organizing your own data and its value. Knowing what cyber security means". He sees a similar gap when it comes to women in IT: "We need to start making IT and tech cool and interesting much earlier. False role models and stereotypes such as ‘math is not for girls’ are a thing of the past. Other countries have long since understood this. Only we in Germany are not tapping into the huge potential in many areas." He is trying to change this in his role at OTTO and through his voluntary work: "My voluntary work is important to me because it helps to improve digital skills in society. In this way, I want to dispel the ignorance that I observe in society."

And his commitment has been rewarded: OTTO's IT Director has today been awarded what is probably the most prestigious prize in the IT industry and can call himself CIO of the Year. "I see this award more as a team award, because it stands for the outstanding work of recent years. Considering how many thousands of IT organizations there are out there, this award is something very special - I'm incredibly proud of everyone involved."