Bastian Rafael
From construction equipment operator to Head of People: Bastian Rafael discovered his calling in HR at HWR Berlin—today, he shapes modern HR practices and fosters corporate culture at eduki.
- Degree programme
Business Administration, Department 1
- Degree
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- Graduating year
2021
- Position / Current employer
Head of People at eduki (Lehrerkolleg GmbH)
I am the Head of People at eduki, where I develop strategic HR initiatives—ranging from feedback systems and career paths to compensation strategies and change management processes. My seven-person team covers Talent Acquisition, HR Business Partnering, Learning & Development, and, most recently, Workplace. It is particularly important to me to align HR closely with the business and thereby foster a positive, development-oriented corporate culture.
What do you particularly value about your work?
The variety. No two days are alike, and that’s exactly what makes it so exciting. In my day-to-day work, I navigate between classic leadership and HR topics, strategic issues, project management, organizational development, talent development, and recruiting. When I transitioned from a specialist to a manager, I had to focus more on the big picture—my personal “unlearning” process. Today, I primarily fulfill my role as a catalyst, with the goal of building a strong team and fostering individual growth.
Would you recommend the program?
Absolutely! The HWR gave me much more than just technical knowledge. The areas of law, controlling, and statistics, in particular, had a profound personal impact on me. The practical content serves as a valuable foundation for my daily work today.
How well did your degree program prepare you for your current job?
The law courses prepared me particularly well. They remain highly relevant to my HR work to this day. The quantitative modules, such as management accounting and statistics, also gave me a solid foundation for HR analytics. What I would have liked to see was more practical content in the areas of recruiting and talent development. Overall, however, the program provided a strong foundation—both professionally and personally.
Your advice to today’s students?
Don’t let dry theory put you off. Much of it will become important later in your career, especially in strategic roles. Start networking early, for example at events. Pursue independent learning—podcasts, panel interviews, and webinars help bridge the gap between theory and practice. And most importantly: get involved with artificial intelligence! Those who build expertise in this area early on will be one step ahead of the future.