Introduction

Dear members of the committee,

I would like to formally welcome you to this special motivation letter.

My name is André-Paul Widera and I hereby declare my intention to apply for the dual degree program at the IS & T college in Omaha, USA. On this web page, I want to briefly provide a concise rationale for why I am the right candidate.

For this, I specifically designed this web presence and made some thoughts on how to purposefully share my vision in an eye-catching, extravagant, and consolidating way.

In doing so, I aim to demonstrate my commitment to exploring all possibilities within my sphere of influence, thereby illustrating my strong desire to get selected by you.

By scrolling down, you will be finding quotes by American politicians, shown through the degree to which these ideas have become second nature to me. Furthermore, by clicking on the bold and underlined names of individuals, you can view the letters of recommendation they have provided me.

Without further ado, allow me to present my application for this unique opportunity.

Description. This is me, sitting on a bench on the sky floor, located on the fourth level of the MCI (I) building, just below the lecture room where I successfully completed my Bachelor’s oral examination with honors.

Description. According to the forgetting curve, my focus is not on acquiring new vocabulary but on consolidating previously learned words, which led me to utilize Anki, a flashcard program that leverages spaced repetition and active recall to improve long-term retention.

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

— Benjamin Franklin

If there is one valuable lesson I have learned in life, it is the importance of being prepared for any situation and dedicating focused energy toward achieving what one truly desires.

To study at UNO in Nebraska, proper English is essential, so I have focused on improving my proficiencies. Since December 2024, I have incorporated vocabulary practice into my morning routine, completing over 40,000 repetitions of around 2,500 vocabulary. I have also sought feedback from English-speaking friends from London, the US, and Canada for tips on pronunciation and speaking. All of this, in addition to studying in English at Master’s level.

Moreover, I also reached out to several alumni and read testimonials to gain deeper insights into the dual degree program and understand what actually to expect at UNO, ensuring that what appears at first glance is truly what it seems.

“If you are walking down the right path and you are willing to keep walking, eventually you will make progress.”

— Barack Obama

In my judgement, recent success and the associated experience do not guarantee future achievements, but they certainly make them more attainable by providing individuals with the tools and mindsets necessary to navigate and excel in future endeavors.

During my Bachelor’s, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Umeå, Sweden, which reinforced my confidence that another international experience would not only be the right choice for me but also be built upon a strong foundation.

Moreover, my time in Sweden was positively received beyond my own perspective, as evidenced by the recommendation letter I received from Johan Örestig Kling, a Swedish professor at the University of Umeå.

Building on this, the Bachelor’s study management of the MCiT department recognized me as a reliable scholarship holder. Thereupon, Daniel D’Assisi selected me to represent the university in an interview with the OeAD to talk from my perspective about how the EU-funded Erasmus program was implemented, further highlighting both my academic and professional credibility.

Description. Among others, I have a particular passion for photography, capturing the beauty of Västerbotten, the province in which Umeå is located.

Description. In collaboration with several MCiT study program lecturers, this paper presents the comprehensive literature review of the case study I conducted in the course of my Bachelor’s thesis.

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

— Theodore Roosevelt

In my view, it is essential not only to fulfill what is demanded, but also to go beyond those expectations and exceed what has been demanded.

During my very early school days, as stated by Christian Haussels¹, and A-levels, my extracurricular activities revealed my strong desire to exceed what was required, as I took part in the German Entrepreneur Award and a TV feature, which, according to my former senior teachers Nadja Biermeyer and Tobias Schmidt, additionally underlined my ability to be a favorable spokesperson.

Continuing this, during my Bachelor’s studies, I worked in excellent collaboration for the Family Business Center at the MCI, an experience acknowledged by my former supervisor Anita Zehrer, while achieving an overall grade point average of 1.92 in my studies. Notably, even though that I was working alongside, my performance in management studies was remarkable, as highlighted by Thomas Dilger.

On top of that, I wrote a thesis not just as a requirement of my Bachelor’s program, but out of a real passion to become an expert in digital transformation. Knowing that exceptional results require precision, I sought guidance not only from my supervisor but from all of my lecturers to understand what separates the wheat from the chaff — ultimately achieving a 98 percent grade.

As my goal was not just to pursue an interesting research topic but also to generate tangible practical value, I successfully conducted my Bachelor’s thesis in collaboration with a German mid-sized company in North Rhine-Westphalia, as senior executive Holger Manske underscores.

Going beyond that, I set out from the beginning of my Bachelor’s thesis to produce something worthy of publication. Latterly, my supervisor, Christian Ploder, deemed it highly suitable for inclusion in a conference paper, and on the 11th February 2025, I had the honor of submitting my first scientific paper. Ultimately, on March 3rd, my paper was successfully accepted.

“I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.”

— Thomas Jefferson

Last but not least, having a clear personal vision and an irrevocable plan of what one wants is one of the most important endeavors in tackling challenges — especially in the long run.

As emphasized by Murat Ülbeyi, the director of a local advertising company for which I have been working for a decade, strategic thinking and steadfast commitment are among my strongest character traits. Rather than merely adapting to present circumstances and losing sight of the broader picture, I consistently foster strategic partnerships and think forward.

As I outlined at the beginning, I deliberately chose my Bachelor’s thesis topic to gain a deeper scientific understanding of digital transformation. This decision aligns with my long-term goal of founding my own IT consultancy, driven by my vision to enable companies to implement digital transformation seamlessly and without any barriers.

To stay on this path, I have already taken steps to identify a potential supervisor for my Master’s thesis, namely Deepak Khazanchi. His expertise aligns closely with my research interests, and he came highly recommended by an alumnus of the IS & T with whom I spoke personally. I have no doubt that Mr. Khazanchi and I are going to fully concur with what to write about.

Moreover, being an integral part of a research team, I am currently working on an algorithm, most likely to be published in a journal, to develop a quantitative analysis using Python, making this MSc program, with its strong technical focus on IT management, the ideal fit.

Against this backdrop, the dual degree program is a game-changer for my ambitions, as I am not just looking to write a Master’s thesis, but to make an impact.

Description. Determined to secure a top position, I sprinted the final meters of a city race in my hometown of Wipperfürth in Germany, finishing in 17:08 minutes for 4.7 km and placing 5th out of 166 runners.

Conclusion

Now, you having me as a student that is

• diligent in mastering English and well-informed regarding this exclusive opportunity,
• already experienced and highly regarded in international studies,
• ambitious in his academic career, soon to publish his first paper as a Bachelor’s graduate, and
• committed to his long-term vision of founding an IT consulting company and, thereby, already formulating the focus of his Master’s thesis to align with this aspiration,

underscores that I am highly motivated to successfully complete the dual degree program at the IS & T college, making me a candidate you can count on and who is willing to do everything in his power to represent the MCI in the most excellent way at UNO.

Furthermore, I have attached my curriculum vitae for your review. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you require any additional information or documentation.

I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my application further.

Yours sincerely,

André-Paul Widera.