Stefanie Rathje

Prof. Dr. Stefanie Rathje is a Professor of Business Communication at HTW Berlin (Berlin University of Applied Sciences of Technology and Economics), where she has been employed since 2008. She is affiliated with Department 4: Computer Science, Communication and Business, specifically within the Business Communication program. Her academic career includes a position as Junior Professor for Intercultural Business Communication at Friedrich Schiller University Jena (2004-2008).

Her educational background includes a doctorate from the University of the Arts Berlin (2002), an MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business (1996-1998), and a Diploma in Social and Business Communication from Berlin University of the Arts (1992-1996). Prior to her academic career, she worked as a Management Consultant at AT Kearney (1998-2004).

Prof. Rathje's research focuses on the intersection of culture, communication, and organizational behavior. She is particularly known for developing the concept of multicollectivity, which challenges traditional notions of cultural identity by recognizing that individuals simultaneously belong to multiple cultural and collective contexts. Her work argues that simplistic cultural concepts fail to address the complexities of modern societies and intercultural encounters. She examines how these multiple affiliations shape individual identity and influence organizational dynamics in global contexts.

Her 77 publications reveal a consistent trajectory exploring cultural complexity in organizational settings. The most recent works (2014-2016) focus on practical applications of her theoretical frameworks, particularly the HTW Cohesion project and Cohesion Catalyst research. Earlier works (2007-2010) establish foundational concepts like multicollectivity and critique traditional approaches to intercultural competence training. Her publications demonstrate a shift from theoretical development to practical implementation of tools for managing cultural complexity in business contexts.

Prof. Rathje has supervised six doctoral students and maintains active engagement with professional organizations, including participation in the SIETAR Europe Congress. Her research has been supported through various projects, including the Bertelsmann Foundation's 'Corporate Cultures in Global Interaction' initiative.

She teaches courses in Leadership, Intercultural Communication, Presentation & Expression, Emotional Competence, and Self-Management. Her office hours for August 2025 indicate she remains actively engaged in teaching and student consultation. The HTW Cohesion project represents her current initiative to strengthen student cohesion within degree programs at HTW Berlin.