Career profile: Robert Borny

Dr. med. Robert Borny, PhD, MBA: The Professional MBA is no academic exercise in an ivory tower but a program that focuses on providing participants with tools and skills that they can use in their day-to-day work. I particularly enjoyed the general part of the training, during which the students of all specializations attended classes together.

What stages in your life have had the greatest impact on you and why?

To quote Ionesco: "We believe we make experiences, but our experiences make us." Many of my experiences have shaped me. Arriving in Austria as a child—there were cars I knew of only from catalogs, colorful streets and full supermarket shelves, but also language difficulties and the feeling of not belonging. Holding a human heart that had been stopped for bypass surgery as a medical student and feeling it contract slightly. Studying forensic medicine and reading about the tragedies that had caused people to commit suicide. Succeeding in synthesizing that nanoparticle in the research laboratory after 50 failed attempts. Taking my MBA degree and meeting colleagues from a host of different cultures. Last but not least, I have also been shaped by my experiences abroad: by doing research in Japan (respect for other people), by giving presentations at conferences in the USA (greatness and professionalism) and, above all, by traveling to Africa (being happy even if you do not achieve material success).

Did you originally want to pursue a career in a different field? If so, why is it that nothing has come of your plans?

Originally, I wanted to become a medical doctor. While studying medicine, I realized that I also had a strong interest in the business side of things. In my current position as investment manager, I cover a broad spectrum of fields, ranging from life-sciences research to pharmaceuticals to biotech to medical technology. My strength lies in the fact that I can carry out multidirectional analyses: thanks to graduating from a secondary technical college (HTL), I have a thorough understanding of technological issues; I see everything through the eyes of a physician and user, and am perfectly able to put myself in the position of the applicant researcher; my research experience helps me perform a critical analysis of scientific facts, and last but not least I have a strong background in business, enabling me to take into consideration economic aspects as well.