Shaping the green transformation as a working student

David Kosinski studies industrial engineering at the renowned RWTH Aachen University. When the 25-year-old was looking for a job as a working student, thyssenkrupp was his first choice. Not only because David was born in Essen. He was also convinced by the company's consistent commitment as a global group of companies to taking responsibility for environmental protection. As a working student, David is an active part of a company that is regularly recognized as a global leader in climate protection. Just the right thing for the student.

After earning a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering at the University of Duisburg-Essen, David went on to earn a master's degree at RWTH Aachen University. His specialization? Mechanical engineering with a focus on production technology and sustainability. Since August 2021, the industrial engineer has been supporting the Technology, Innovation & Sustainability department at thyssenkrupp Services GmbH as a working student in the area of sustainability, environment and climate. A perfect fit for David: "As a native of Essen, thyssenkrupp has of course always been a familiar name to me."

"I looked specifically for working student positions in the area of sustainability and found what I was looking for on the thyssenkrupp career website. He was particularly impressed by the company's commitment to greater energy and climate efficiency and the consistent implementation of the climate targets in the "Climate Action Program for Sustainable Solutions" (CAPS), with which thyssenkrupp aims to become carbon neutral by 2050 at the latest.

A passion for technology and sustainability

David was attracted to thyssenkrupp by the challenge and opportunity to live out his passion for technology and sustainability. "I have always had a passion for technology. So I knew early on that I wanted to be an engineer," he says. "The interest in sustainability came over time, and at the latest after my internship in the CO2 strategy of a German car manufacturer, it was clear to me that I wanted to work in the field of sustainability."

But not all sustainability is the same, as the industrial engineer discovered. "In particular, the diversity of products and services and the associated different sustainability challenges clearly set thyssenkrupp apart from my previous employers," says David, pleased to have found a challenge that matches his aspirations.

As a working student at thyssenkrupp Services GmbH, David is independently responsible for subprojects on a wide range of topics. Among other things, he is involved in the analysis of the corporate carbon footprint of the entire group. David also assists in the preparation of ratings and reports for non-profit organizations such as the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), which recently reviewed the environmental performance of nearly 15,000 companies worldwide.

"Super exciting to work on the green transformation of thyssenkrupp"

As a working student, David works a total of 20 hours a week - always with the goal of actively contributing to making thyssenkrupp carbon neutral. He doesn't know a typical working day: "My working day always depends on the tasks at hand. It's usually an exciting mix of calculations in Excel and creating documents in PowerPoint. Regular meetings with colleagues also bring new perspectives and challenges.

It's not just the variety that David enjoys. It's also the good feeling of creating something meaningful with your own time. "I just find it super exciting to work on the green transformation of a company like thyssenkrupp," says David. So it's no wonder that he sees his future at thyssenkrupp: "I could definitely imagine continuing to work in 'Technology, Innovation & Sustainability' or in the area of sustainability in one of the other divisions in the group of companies."

For example, in steel production - at thyssenkrupp Steel. In an industry that is (still) responsible for around seven percent of Germany's CO₂ emissions, you can really make a difference. This requires smart, intelligent climate solutions. Solutions that are developed and driven forward by employees like David.

thyssenkrupp's goal is clear: 100% climate neutrality and laying the foundations for future generations.

Do you want to be part of the green transformation at thyssenkrupp? Then find out more here! Be active. Join #GENERATIONTK