Dominik Spitza
Welcome to my webpage!
- My name is Dominik Spitza and I am an expert for events, scientific project management, customer service and administrative Consulting to support researchers’ visions and projects.
- I have overseen the full lifecycle of more than 150 international conferences & policy events worldwide.
- I obtained my diploma in business administration and China Studies from the University of Cologne in Germany with a focus on marketing, brand management and business psychology.
Professional Experience
IZA - Institute of Labor Economics
2012 - today
My key responsibilities as Head of Event & Guest Management at IZA of Deutsche Post Stiftung include: Event, Project, Budget & People Management, Communication, Leadership, Concept, Marketing & Promotion, Event Booking & Logistics, Travel & Expenses, Risk- & Quality Management, Process Optimization
I serve as the central interface between all departments, integrating cross-functional strategies into operational processes. I report directly to the executive management, collaborate on strategy development with our research directors and maintain external communication with over 4,500 researchers within the global economics network.
I manage the “IZA Call for Papers” Newsletter and coordinate the seminar & visiting scholar program.
I have continously optimized key administrative processes, such as travel & expenses, digital conference management, project meeting structures, communication strategies, event planning and onboarding processes.
Recruiting staff and managing reliable service providers in an international context, as well as establishing intercultural sensitivity and overseeing safety management for domestic and international events are further key parts of my responsibilities.
- 2023: I have spearheaded the conceptualization, development and implementation of a web-based guest management system as part of the "digitalization of recurring processes".
- 2022: I held the overall project management role for a change management process, redesigning over 800 event landing pages, enhancing external communication, user experience and design consistency.
- 2021: My team was responsible for nationwide communication with 150 federal employment agencies as part of a research project commissioned by the Federal Ministry (BMAS).
- 2020: My team introduced online and hybrid events in record time, using state-of-the-art technology.
- IZA 25th anniversary event in Berlin: Successful international research conference and policy panel on the German labor market with Hubertus Heil (German Federal Minister of Labor and Social Affairs), Monika Schnitzer (Chair of the German Council of Economic Experts), Uta Schönberg (University College London) and Jason Furman (Harvard Kennedy School), moderated by Christian Odendahl (The Economist).
- World Bank and UK Aid (DFID/FCDO) Development Conferences | in Bonn, Lima, New Delhi, W. DC, Addis Ababa, Lusaka, Dhaka, Nairobi, London
- 24th EALE Conference 2012 | WCCB (former House of Representatives, Bonn)
- AEA ASSA Meetings: receptions, press booth| in Boston, San Diego, Philadelphia
- Topic Workshops | Environment, Climate, Education, Migration, Gender, Data
- Policy Workshops | OECD, European Commission, BMAS & BMFSFJ
- IZA Summer Schools | Berlin, Bonn, DHL Management Center in Buch am Ammersee
- Tower Talks at Deutsche Post | with Friedrich Merz, Anke Hassel, Wolfgang Clement, Angela Titzrath, Aiman Mazyek, Reiner Hoffmann, Annegret Schnell
Red Bull
2006 - 2012
Brand-, Guerilla-, Live- und Sales marketing in Sports & FMCG: Trend-scouting, market analysis, PR, branding, sampling, sponsoring. Event management: organization, concept development, budgeting, administration/ coordination, staff delegation, implementation, debrief.
- “Rock am Ring” (2008 – 2011)
- “Gravity Challenge” (2007)
- “Flugtag” (2006).
- "Can you make it?" (2008)
Freelance & Projects
OSK
2009 - 2012
Strategic research and analysis projects for automotive infotainment and audio systems, e.g. on BMW Group. Concept and execution support for marketing activation e.g. “MINI in Concert” Roadshow, and “AMG Performance Tour”.
Borkum Open / b.fit
2011 & 2021
Event management, Coordination and implementation of side program: Promotional activities, staff delegation, various live performances. Highlight: Award ceremony with Gerhard Schröder (Bundeskanzler a. D.).
Certifications
Leadership & Conflict Management
Quadriga University certified, Berlin, Germany Title: Essential Skills for Executives; leadership styles, theories, tools and communication; e.g. DISG; conflict signlas; constructive conflict handling; sustainable conflict resolution.
Online-Marketing-Manager
IHK certified, Cologne, Germany Online communication, website-analytics, conversions-tracking, SEO, ads, targeting, multi- & cross-channel-marketing.
Teaching
China University of Mining & Technology
German courses of culture and language at CUMT, Xuzhou for a Chinese student exchange program in cooperation with the University of Duisburg-Essen.
Education
University of Cologne
Diploma in Business Administration and China Studies (Regional Studies China)
Marketing and Brand Management B.A., Prof. Völckner
Business Psychology B.A., Prof. Fetchenhauer
Chinese Language, Modern China Studies (Law, culture, social sciences, history, literature)
Thesis: Dirty Surplus Accounting – Presentation of International Accounting Standards and Systematization of Descriptive Empirical Findings, Prof. Sievers
Xiamen Ocean University
DAAD Scholar (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst) in Fujian/China
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