Students who make a particularly good impression at the “Practice and Vision” workshops can prove their credentials as future consultants at the three-day LANXESS “Think Tank”. They hold in-depth discussions with LANXESS managers and external experts from the worlds of science and politics on selected topics that are of relevance to the company. Together, the high-potential students then prepare strategic concepts for the company and present them to the Board of Management. This gives them an insight into what the world of business is really like and could well lay the foundation for their future career.

Dialogue with digital natives
In November 2010, social media were on the Think Tank agenda. As “digital natives”, senior high school students are completely at home with social networks and news services. They are best placed to know how companies can use Facebook and similar media to the greatest benefit. Together with LANXESS managers, they discussed how the specialty chemicals company can optimize its online presentation. The committed youngsters had already given an indication of just what they are capable of. Basing their ideas on a survey at the world’s largest plastics trade fair, “K 2010” in Düsseldorf, they developed two new LANXESS apps for the iPad and iPhone. These apps relate to water, which is a topical issue around the world.