The first & third semester candidates at Hochschule Pforzheim had a wonderful interaction with the alumni of the MBA program during the “Alumni Meet Current Students” event, that takes place every semester. MBA Program Director Prof. Dr. Harald Strotmann and  Jochen Ebert, Head of International Depatment Business School, presided over the event with the organisational support from the MBA office team. The alumni briefed the participants on their own individual MBA journey and their pursuits further to the completion of the course at Pforzheim University. A networking session followed, and the students utilized the individual chatrooms to further discuss their queries and consult on their future aspirations with the alumni. Thereafter an informal bonding session ensued that extended late into a spirited and fun night. The participating MBA alumni were associated with a wide spectrum of professional profiles, which facilitated a prolific discussion over a broad range of topics. We extend our sincere gratitude to the HSPF MBA alumni who reached back to extend their expertise and support for the HSPF MBA International Management program.

Stefan Grün, Vice President Compensation & Benefits, HR Services and Workforce Planning, WMF, MBA-Class 2005
Stefan Grün completed his studies at Pforzheim University in 2005 and has since been associated with Daimler AG, Eisenmann SE & WMF in various management roles. Currently he leads a team of 30 and specialises in Management Compensation, Payroll, HRIS & HR Controlling in addition to a range of other skillsets in HR. During his career, he also excelled as an independent management consultant for compensation & benefits and HRIS. He had opted for the MBA in Pforzheim due to its broad international outlook, practical approach and very good reputation. Looking back, he considers his decision to join the program at HSPF as wise since it equipped his further growth and helped him to develop important business skillsets.

Kali Milner, Digital Product Owner, Francotyp-Postalia AG, MBA-Class 2020
Hailing from USA, Kali Milner graduated from Pforzheim in 2020 and is currently Associate product manager for digital solutions at Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG, a traditional firm that specializes in franking machines and currently undergoing a digital transformation. She had not only done a Company Project during her MBA studies at FP, but also wrote her theses with the company which enabled her to land a job there after her graduation. Kali, who had an industrial engineering background, decided to join the MBA International Management at Pforzheim University together with her now-husband David, after her stint in Warehouse Management in the US. The two of them had the intention to hone their business skills and acquire a second language when joining the MBA in Pforzheim. Today she fondly remembers her time in the program and is still in close contact with her former classmates some of whom have become very good friends.

Adela Maria Jiva, Project Manager in International Licensing for Deutsche Recycling in Cologne, Romania, MBA-Class 2019
Adela Maria Jiva, a former Legal Counselor from Romania graduated from the HSPF MBA in 2019. In addition to broadening her business acumen, she also intended to acquire relevant soft skills, critical knowledge and access to the opportunities that an MBA would offer for her career while opting for an MBA at Pforzheim. She recollects her favourite course as Business Planning which provided her the exposure to a realistic business environment and agrees that the MBA International Management in Pforzheim was an intense yet enriching experience which she really enjoyed. She had completed her thesis with SAP and then worked there in global licensing. Thereafter she pursued opportunities at Microsoft in delivering solutions, ensuring compliance, and developing strategies with a focus on public sector at her role as commercial executive before joining Deutsche Recycling.

Ameya Erande, Sales Engineer & Business Developer, Stuttgart, AVL Software and Functions GmbH, India, MBA-Class 2019
Ameya Erande, a systems engineer by profession, joined the MBA in 2017, further to his experience with TCS & Nissan in Japan. He chose Germany for an MBA due to his passion for the automotive industry, and here especially the German automotive sector. In addition, he wanted to switch career roles and leveraged on his MBA for the same. He asserts that the MBA classes at Pforzheim University equipped his growth in his current role as Sales Engineer at AVL software & functions Gmbh. His acumen for German language has helped with his career in Germany and he recommended all current students to take the chance while studying in Pforzheim, to enhance their German skills.   

Bilal Günay, BI Data Analyst, Vorwerk Group, Wuppertal, MBA-Class 2015
Bilal Günay, a computer engineer from Turkey shared with the students his fond memories of his MBA time at Pforzheim University with candidates from 12 other nationalities. He utilised the practical oriented program to concentrate on finance and controlling thus strengthening his skills and enhanced his knowledge in different business areas. Currently in his role as a senior BI Data Analyst at Vorwerk Group, he works closely with Finance, Controlling and Sales, and is engaged in finding solutions through data analytics. During, his MBA he had completed his internship in Hamburg at Commerzbank in Finance, an area of his past expertise. He recollects that he liked the diversity of the program and made friends for life!

Rishab Saklani, Senior Controller, Comtravo, Berlin, India, MBA-Class 2018
Rishab Saklani, who graduated from the Mba in 2018, works for Comtravo, business travel solutions provider as a senior controller. He recalls that he could leverage on his classroom interactions, to excel in facing grilling interviews later on his career. He has extensive experience in Finance and shared brief excerpts from his Company Project experience in the MBA program. The HSPF MBA equipped him with problem solving and delegating skills, he fondly recalls. He had been a student consultant at Bechtle during the course and thereafter pursued roles in Finance in various organisations.

Yousra Talaat, Strategic Market Insight Analyst, EMEA Region, Abbott Diagnostics Business, Wiesbaden, MBA-Class 2016
Yousra Talaat, graduated from the MBA in 2016 and has vibrant memories of her time at Pforzheim University. She started her career with Nielsen in Egypt, where she is originally from, and later headed to HSPF for her MBA. After upskilling herself at the Pforzheim program, she pursued roles as a Research Analyst after graduation. During the MBA program she pursued various roles at Deloitte and SAP as a working student consultant.  

The program was very informative and fruitful to the participants and we are all looking forward to more such interactions in the future!!

text and screenshot: Jomy Jose Thekkiniyath, MBA Class of 2023