Department of Strategic Planning Attracted an International Expert in Leadership and Green Banking

The Department of Strategic Planning at the D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics - Svishtov made another step towards the internationalization of education and linking science with real business. Within the framework of an official visit to the Academy, a series of extremely fruitful meetings were held with Mag. Dr. Mario Stephan Hopfner, B.A. MBA MSc., who was attracted as an expert to the department. During his visit, strategic directions for joint research activities were outlined, including the preparation of joint publications for authoritative scientific publications such as the journal "Narodnostopanski Arhiv".

Dr. Mario Hopfner possesses a respectable profile, combining extensive academic training and many years of management experience at the highest level in the European banking sector:

• A proven leader in banking management. His professional path passes through various positions in the Austrian and German banking sector - from a regional market manager managing large teams, through a director of central bank branches, to a Board Member / Managing Director Market. In this capacity, he is directly responsible for strategic development, risk management, the implementation of IT and digital innovations, and the overall operation of banking institutions.
• A unique multidisciplinary academic expertise. Dr. Hopfner holds numerous educational and academic degrees from leading European universities, covering the fields of business administration, sales management, digital transformation, finance, and business law. His scientific interests are focused on leadership skills in the era of digitalization and the transformation of regional cooperative banks.

The participation of Dr. Hopfner will be particularly important for updating the lecture courses in the department. His rich international experience will be integrated directly into the education to prepare students from "Project Management" and "Public Administration" in the most current global areas such as ESG solutions, green banking, and sustainable finance, as well as strategic leadership in the conditions of digital transformation.