I only had a bachelor’s degree in International Business Administration. Doing an MBA was therefore a necessity in order to get ahead in my career. Moreover, after working for 6 years, I also felt the urge to go back to school – not just to learn new skills and refresh old knowledge, but also to get in touch with peers who are at the same point in their life. 

One thing was clear from the very beginning: a full-time MBA was not an option for me. I was looking for part-time programs that would allow me to continue with my career. Mannheim was an obvious choice because it offers one of the best-ranked MBAs in Europe and is the No. 1 business school in Germany. I also liked the modular format of the program. I find it much more time efficient and effective than weekend programs.

The MBA already made a big difference in my career: one year into the program, I got a promotion. Getting promoted to Head of Corporate Strategy & Investment at BRITA Group, the leading water filtration company in the consumer segment, has been a big step forward for me. What greatly helped me face this challenge, especially with regards to building up my own team and suddenly having managerial responsibility, were the many leadership courses during the MBA program and the way we continuously worked on our personal development.

Being exposed to such a diversity of personalities and working styles was not always easy, but it certainly brought us all a major step forward. That meant for example finding a professional way of dealing with people that you just cannot work with by valuing their strengths rather than focusing on their weaknesses.

One of my personal highlights was our residency in Atlanta. The leadership and organizational change module was outstanding. Having the chance to experience the flair of another world-renowned business school was unforgettable. Furthermore, networking with so many international young talents that inspire each other personally and professionally is a really unique experience.

Completing the Mannheim MBA has been a great journey. Would I do it again? I sure would. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn and work with fellow participants from so many diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. Many were and will continue to be a great source of inspiration for me in business and private matters. I am leaving the Mannheim MBA thus not only with new skills but also with friendships that will last.

I decided to enroll for an MBA because I wanted to understand more of the organization of a company. I also knew it would help me become a responsible leader in my organization. I chose Mannheim not only due to the exceptional experience that the participants share during the program but also because of the fact that it is the best school in the most powerful country in Europe. The part-time format, which is different from the ones at other business schools, ensures that learning phases are both intense and effective.

Apart from the career evolution I was offered within Robert Bosch GmbH, my company, the Mannheim MBA taught me that I could become an ‘intrapreneur’ and could put things in motion to improve my work environment. The courses gave me the necessary tools to define the strategy for my team and implement it flawlessly. I was also able to use the two years of the program to develop my soft skills and presentation abilities, in front of many experienced, very well connected professionals.

There were many intense moments during the program, but the international seminars organized during the MBA will stay in my memory forever. The courses were taught in Business Schools with an excellent reputation and the benefits of learning from the world famous professors were countless. I even stayed in touch with an eminent scholar from Hong-Kong, with the hope to have a common project in the years to come. 

On a personal level, I learned a lot during the social project, which is mandatory during the Mannheim MBA. We had to think about issues that are not your typical business cases, but we were taught to think out of the box and we reached a very satisfactory result for the disadvantaged children we wanted to help. And finally, I know that nothing will erase the friendships I developed over the last twenty-four months. They are way more than just co-students, we are all part of the Mannheim family!

Why did you decide to do an MBA? Why did you choose the Mannheim Part-Time MBA?

In doing an MBA, my goal was to gain new insights and learn new skills. With my background in engineering, I needed to complement my management expertise in order to accelerate my career. Moreover, I wanted to extend my network. I chose a part-time program because I wanted to continue with my career and also prove to myself that I can manage to both work and study at the same time.

The decision to study at Mannheim Business School was an easy one for me: Apart from the proximity to my home and my workplace, there are many good reasons in favor of Mannheim. As confirmed by the major international rankings, MBS is the best business school in Germany. Its Triple Crown accreditation is further proof of its international acceptance as a leading institution for management education. I also think that the course schedule, with two study trips and compact modules every two months rather than fragmented lectures every weekend, is the best concept for a part-time MBA program.

What difference has the Mannheim MBA made to your career? 

For one thing, the MBA led to the next stage in my career just a few months after graduation. There are also many personal changes I have noticed: I built my stamina throughout the program and I can now overcome stubborn obstacles; the program increased my self-confidence by taking me out of my comfort zone and making me master tasks I was not very comfortable with before (for example, from being afraid of presentations to having fun doing them); I achieved a more rounded personal profile, which earned me a recommendation for an internal personal and professional development program over one year; and the MBA gave me a clearer vision of what is really important to me in my job and what I want to achieve in the future with regard to my hierarchical level and leadership, for example, I am now striving for more and more strategic elements in my job.

How do the tools and expertise you obtained help you in your daily work?

Plenty of tools have already been of great use, for example, the Strategy Canvas and the Scenario Funnel as inputs for a SWOT Analysis to identify the potential of a new strategic project within our company. Moreover, I became more confident in talking to the management board: No question marks appear in my head when the impacts of KPIs like DSO or Cash Flow are discussed during a meeting. I also adopted many tips and tricks from my fellow students with a consultancy background to improve my slide decks, with the result that I have received much more positive feedback since.

What were some significant experiences that you took away with you from the program?

I would say there are two main things I took away from the program. First, ideas get bigger and better in a team: If you discuss your idea within a team, so many valuable and interesting new aspects come together. And second, giving huge projects a logical structure and splitting them into digestible parts right at the beginning is key to the overall success and keeping everybody on board throughout the project.

What was your personal highlight? 

One of my highlights during the program was the module abroad at Goizueta Business School in Atlanta, US: Great lectures and facilities, awesome organization, and a great mix of studying and excursions. Everything was just right and almost felt like a class trip from my childhood. 

I also learned to shoulder the workload and enjoy it: No matter how tough and tight one’s work, study, and private calendars are, there is always a way to integrate good fun and enjoy the journey.

During the program, I loved listening to guest lectures held by entrepreneurs – the way they burn for their dream and their passion in their work were incredible and demonstrated that this is really what it takes to start your own business.

I am still in touch with some fellow students: We see each other at private and MBS-organized events, and sometimes our WhatsApp group still goes crazy with new messages. I am impressed with how passionate MBS is about keeping the network alive and together – there are so many great opportunities to be part of it as an Alumnus. I am happy that I can now recommend the program to potential “Mannheimers” and that one of my closest friends has joined the next Part-Time cohort. And finally, I am proud that I was invited to contribute to a newspaper article about studying at Mannheim Business School, published in the “Rheinpfalz” in December 2017.

The Mannheim Part-Time MBA program has been a great experience I can only recommend!