Josef Gilgen Plaque

Did a slight change in interest rates by the European Central Bank ever lead to a career? Here at the Josef Gilgen Plaque, in Niederdollendorf’s Bürgerpark, we remember a man whose career revolved around such intricate financial shifts. The Josef Gilgen Plaque commemorates a man who dedicated his life to understanding the complexities of risk management. Josef Gilgen, a graduate in economics from the Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, may not have known his true calling initially. He started his studies in 2005, under the old Diplom system. His path, however, led him to a career perfectly suited to his analytical mind. After completing his Diplom, Gilgen pursued a master’s degree in statistics and finance at the University of Göttingen, graduating in 2013. This equipped him perfectly for the challenges of risk management. While the world of key figures, models, and quantitative analyses might seem dry to some, it was where Gilgen thrived. He embarked on his career in Vienna, diving straight into his area of expertise. Even the Viennese dialect, initially a challenge, eventually became another aspect of his professional life. Gilgen’s dedication to continuous learning was remarkable. He even began a distance learning program in philosophy, purely out of intellectual curiosity. This thirst for knowledge, combined with an openness to new experiences, shaped his career. His advice to aspiring professionals? Try different things, uncover hidden passions, and don’t be afraid to take risks. This plaque stands as a testament to a man who embraced challenges and found his perfect fit in the world of finance.