Under the slogan “Be the Boss,” Brockhaus AG—headquartered in Lünen with locations in Dortmund and Hamburg—is once again handing over the top position on its Executive Board, currently held by Matthias Besenfelder, to a student at Fachhochschule Dortmund for one day this year.
When? November 12, 2026. The winner will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be directly involved in high-level decision-making at a medium-sized IT company with more than 170 employees.
Key data
- "Be the Boss" on November 12, 2026
- Applications due by October 13, 2026
- Jury decision on October 16, 2026
Who can apply?
Students of Fachhochschule Dortmund are eligible to apply. An IT-related and business-oriented study program such as Computer Science, Business Information Systems or Business Studies is an advantage. The application process is quick and easy using the form on the Brockhaus AG website.
The schedule for “Boss Day” is packed: project reviews, annual planning, meetings with the Head of Sales and the IT Security team, client interactions, one-on-one meetings with senior leadership—all the responsibilities that come with a leadership role await the candidate. “The ‘Be the Boss’ initiative is a great opportunity for our students to gain insights into the day-to-day work of top management at an IT service provider,” emphasizes Prof. Dr. Gabriele Kunau from the Faculty of Computer Science.
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Brockhaus AG has been in business for more than 38 years. The company specializes in IT services and applications, particularly for the insurance industry. CEO Matthias Besenfelder is himself an alumnus of Fachhochschule Dortmund and the Faculty of Computer Science, where he studied. Today, he leads a multinational team with employees from more than 20 countries.
“I’m looking forward to gaining a fresh and unbiased perspective that will provide food for thought for my work as a board member,” says Matthias Besenfelder. Over the past two years, this has already worked exceptionally well. “At the same time, I’d like to share a real-world insight into the work of top management at a medium-sized IT consulting firm—it’s sometimes different than you might imagine beforehand.” The new boss will work at the “Be the Boss” event in Lünen and experience the consulting business from the perspective of senior management.
Contact us
Questions about the "Be the Boss" day will be answered by Prof. Dr. Gabriele Kunau and Solmaz Mjildi from the Faculty of Computer Science. Marie Sonne, Head of Marketing Communication at Brockhaus AG, can also be contacted. Contact details can be found on the website(Opens in a new tab) .
Prof. Gabriele Kunau, Dr.
- +49 231 91126710
Flexible by arrangement by e-mail
