Blogs
News & Events
Back

Driving change: Sebastian Mackensen’s road to success

Driving change: Sebastian Mackensen’s road to success
Originally from Germany, Sebastian Mackensen’s two-decade career in the automotive sector, working for brands like Porsche, Audi and BMW, has allowed him to call numerous parts of the world home.

His career first began at Porsche, where he worked as the brand’s Head of Financial Services for Spain, before making the leap to work for Porsche Cars North America in Atlanta, Georgia. After spending several years in Atlanta, he returned to Germany to work for Audi, before finally settling into his current position at BMW Group.

Today in his role as Senior Vice President, Head of Market Germany at BMW Group, Sebastian oversees the company’s activities in the German market, including spearheading various projects and initiatives.

His days typically revolve around a constant flow of meetings where he and his team examine results in the short-term and look ahead to set targets for the future. Other meetings center around projects and initiatives regarding the partnership with dealers, or getting together with regional leaders to analyze things globally.

The opportunity to live and work in many places around the world is something that Sebastian is grateful for.

“You meet people who are wired differently, who work differently and have different upbringings. You discover new things, which broadens your horizons and deepens your experience and understanding of things.”

Having learned many lessons from the people he’s met and the experiences he’s had during his career, Sebastian believes that one of the most important lessons he’s learned is to never burn bridges.

“You never know when you’ll need to come back and cross a bridge again. I always advocate for speaking your mind, but do it in a way that’s tactful and authentic.”

Another lesson Sebastian has kept with him is the importance of having a great mentor. In his career, he was fortunate enough to have found a mentor in his boss, who fostered his professional development by constantly encouraging him to embrace new challenges and step into new roles when presented with them. Additionally, his leadership style was driven by principles that Sebastian highly values—integrity, trust and respect.

Filled with many learning opportunities and memorable moments, Sebastian’s career has been anything but average. However, it’s hard for him to define his favorite moment by one specific instance—but rather, he looks back fondly on the many moments of success and triumph he’s shared with others along the way. What’s more, having his hard work recognized through promotions and positive feedback has been a humbling and rewarding career highlight.

And when it comes to success, there are many different definitions, according to Sebastian. His personal definition of success is reaching your goals—and having fun while doing so. Additionally, he points out that sharing success with others along the way makes it that much sweeter.

“To make a reference to sports, it’s not just about scoring goals and that's it. Rather, it’s about working together as a team, embracing that team spirit and winning together.”

Studying at IE Business School was an opportunity that came up through personal contacts in his network while he was participating in an exchange program in Madrid. His dream of furthering his studies in Spain later became a reality when he joined the 1996 intake for IE Business School’s International MBA.

Reflecting on his time in the International MBA program—where he learned alongside a group of international peers—Sebastian says the key to getting the most out of the International MBA is being open-minded and taking advantage of all that the university and its community have to offer.

“There’s an expression we have in German which basically translates to, ‘Don’t go through life wearing blinders.’ Approach new situations with an open mind and curiosity, learn from each other and reap the benefits from being surrounded by such a diverse group.”

Carrying this with him throughout his professional life, Sebastian attributes his accomplishments to being tenacious and always trying to view the glass half full. Having a positive mindset and enjoying life are keys to continued success, and so is sharing that success with others.

To celebrate the 50th intake of the International MBA at IE Business School, we’re sharing stories from our impressive alumni. This impactful leader is just one of the stand-out International MBA alumni who have passed through the doors of IE Business School. To read even more inspiring stories from graduates of the International MBA, and to learn more about the program, click here.

IE – CURATED LEARNING FOR THE NEXT BEST YOU