Rupert, USA, MBA Class of 2020, Senior Technology Consultant at EY

1.    What are your main takeaways from the MBA?
There is a lot of variety in the professional working world, might sound corny saying that, but the MBA program really has a lot of different personalities with different areas of specialty and expertise. Regardless of that background, your ambition to pursue any business topic during your studies and after graduation are supported by your professors and wide choice of business electives. The base program is a strong foundation and the electives + company project and ability to work in the 4th semester, really give you a great opportunity to focus your career in any direction you choose.
 
2.    How did the MBA program help you in your professional career?
The interactions with future business leaders from a ton of different cultural backgrounds certainly prepared me to work with international teams at EY. I work with teams across EMEIA and having the empathy and emotional intelligence on top of the hard skills the MBA provides, has certainly been an advantage for me. Relevant courses that have really helped me in my current work include: change management, innovation management, information management, design, project management and communications management. I refer back to that knowledge and have really built my career on top of those foundations, making them stronger with each new project and new work experience that I take on.
 
3.    What do you, in your experience, think is/are the main advantage(s) of HSPF's MBA?
The HSPF MBA is credentialed, affordable and full of world-class professors that have worked in business for many years before coming to HSPF. So emphasizing the University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule) over a regular research university, really means that students get relevant, hands-on case studies based on real world experiences from professors and companies in Europe. Further to that point, you also get to meet those leaders of industry in the region and have the opportunity to work on actual projects that directly impact those companies. This makes transitioning into the German working world significantly easier than other programs. Another advantage for those that want to work in other countries in the future, the lessons you learn here can be applied in any professional services working environment globally,  not only in Germany. On top of that, there’s the opportunity to learn with partner universities in several other countries as well. Alumni of our program are working for top companies in countries all over the planet.  
 
4.    What would you advice current students to do/look out for while going through the MBA?
Push yourself out of your comfort zone into the new area of work you envision yourself in. Want to be a better public speaker? Take advantage of those opportunities to present case studies and pitches in front of your classmates and experienced professors. Want to get into consulting or finance or marketing? Take electives in those fields and really apply what you learn from them during your projects and internships. The real benefit of the MBA is not getting the best mark, it is about gaining new knowledge, failing fast and truly learning from your 2 years at HSPF. Also, hang out with German students outside of the MBA batch! Those connections and experiences will really give you a taste of the local culture and help you make some lifelong friends while also seeing more the region has to offer like beautiful hikes, streams and villages in the Black Forest that are only 15-30 min away by S-Bahn or bus.

Thanks, Rupert!