What international Alumni say about Business School Pforzheim

Study program: MBA International Management (M.Sc.)

Where did you grow up / live before coming to Pforzheim? 

I grew up in Cairo, Egypt, till I decided to continue my studies in Germany. I have studied my Bachelor of Statistics and Economics at Cairo University, and afterward I was looking for an international study experience abroad.

Where are you now located (geographically and job wise)? 

Currently, I live in Frankfurt, Germany, as my job is in the area of Frankfurt. 

When looking back on your time at Business School Pforzheim… 

What made you realize that this program was the right choice for you? 

The accreditation and reputation of the MBA program were one of the reasons to join the MBA program in Pforzheim. Also, I spoke to some current students at the time, who shared with me very positive feedback about their experience in Hochschule PF.

What’s something about this program you couldn’t have experienced anywhere else (or in your home country)? 

The international experience and having the chance to study and interact with international professors and students from various countries. I knew studying abroad would broaden my knowledge, expertise, and get me to get out of my comfort zone in my home country.

What’s your fondest memory of your time as a student here? 

The group projects that we needed many hours to work on. It was usually a combination of fun and learning at the same time. Yet It was also challenging sometimes, as we students came from different backgrounds and cultures, and we needed to understand each other very well and make some compromises to make the study projects successful.

What surprised you most while studying at Business School Pforzheim?

How small and quiet Pforzheim is was very surprising for me. As I come from Cairo, which is a very lively city with many people living there. So moving to Pforzheim was a shock for me in the first few months.

Can you tell us about an experience or a person you met during the program who left a lasting impact on you? 

I don’t have a particular person in my mind, but during my studies in Pforzheim, I met a lot of people with different backgrounds and knowledge that really influenced me and helped me to develop more to become the successful person that I am now. The study in Pforzheim was a life-changing experience that I am proud of doing.

What’s one mindset shift you had during the program that still guides you today? 

To be more open towards people and learn from others as much as you can. 

What’s the most valuable takeaway / lesson from the program that has made a difference?

You need to work hard to get what you want. I wanted so hard to be accepted in the MBA program, as I needed to finish my GRE and IELTS exams, and afterward I needed to work hard to continue educating myself and be ready for the job market internationally.

Study program: MBA International Management (M.Sc.)

Where did you grow up / live before coming to Pforzheim?

I was born and raised in Tuxpan, Veracruz, Mexico. I lived there until 19 (from 17 to 18 I lived in Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil). Then I went to live in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico until I was 27, before coming to live in Germany.

Where are you now located (geographically and job wise)?

I live in Bad Wünnenberg, NRW (Kreis Paderborn).

When looking back on your time at Business School Pforzheim… 

What made you realize that this program was the right choice for you? 

I had applied to 2 programs in Germany one year before applying to Pforzheim and I had been rejected. I didn't prepare enough. The next year I applied to 10 different programs in Germany the next year... 

This time, I got accepted in 5. I picked HS Pforzheim's MBA. Why? To be honest, it was because of the accreditations it has. I knew I would get a certificate with which I could work anywhere in the world and so it was the triple accreditation that was the deciding factor for me.

What’s something about this program you couldn’t have experienced anywhere else (or in your home country)? 

This question is impossible to answer "correctly" because I don't know what I don't know. But one thing is sure: From day one I loved the mix between theory and practice. This is, when compared to other education systems worldwide, a USP for German Fachhochschulen. This is especially good for MBA candidates, who need to have work experience to join the program. This background and initial experience of mine helped me get invitations to join projects where, for example, thanks to Prof. Janovsky's kind invitation, I was able to work as Project Manager for two international projects doing consulting for Spanish companies trying to enter the German market. 

Mind you, that specific part of the MBA would not only turn into getting a job offer already on the 2nd semester of the MBA with a German Consulting Company but also, without me knowing, the beginning of the International Expansion company I ended up founding many years later. 

What’s your fondest memory of your time as a student here? 

I met my wife during the MBA. She was doing her Master’s degree in Corporate Communication Management. So, the Pforzheim MBA positively changed my life in more ways than one.

What surprised you most while studying at Business School Pforzheim? 

I thought I could speak German after taking 3 years of German at my University in Monterrey (B1). I arrive to Pforzheim and to my surprise...I understood 30-40% of what people say. Later, I would find out that dialects is a topic never truly discussed during German classes, where only Hochdeutsch is taught.

Can you tell us about an experience or a person you met during the program who left a lasting impact on you? 

Professor Janovsky. I am truly grateful with him for having given me the chance of exploring the consulting world. The projects led to the consulting job offer, writing my MBA thesis there, etc.

What’s one mindset shift you had during the program that still guides you today? 

It taught me about structure and strategy over doing without stopping to analyze why we do what we do. I was so caught up at work in Mexico that I saw the world in a very binary way. Work / Time off. The MBA allowed me to take the time to contemplate, appreciate life, be thankful for what we have and try to find meaning to our life in helping the world in a way only each of us can.

What’s the most valuable takeaway / lesson from the program that has made a difference in your professional life? 

Strategic thinking and speaking the business language can take you to very high places if you believe in yourself.

Study Program: Corporate Communication Management (M.Sc.)

• Where did you grow up and what did you do before coming to Pforzheim?
  I grew up in Bangkok, Thailand. Before coming to Pforzheim, I worked as a Business Operations Manager at a joint venture company, supporting the President/CTO with projects, events, and internal communication. Before that, I was a flight attendant, an experience that not only made me people-centric but also gave me the chance to travel and embrace new cultures.
   
• Why did you choose Business School Pforzheim for your studies?
  I chose Pforzheim Business School simply because it felt like the best fit for me. During the interview, I really felt a connection and good chemistry with the school. Compared to other universities I applied to, Business School Pforzheim felt the most structured and trustworthy. And of course, being a public university was a big plus because it saved me from huge tuition fees.
   
• What do you like best about your study program?
  What I like best about my study program is how practice-oriented it is and that there are fewer written exams. Honestly, it was very different from the way I used to study, and it was tough at first, but I’ve grown a lot. Learning theory while applying it in workshops, exploring new skills, and working on real projects has really shaped a NEW me. I even saw the results in my work as a working student at a company.
   
• Please name three words that best describe your experience at Business School Pforzheim.
  Transformative, Hands-on, Exploration.
   
• What do you do in your free time in Pforzheim and around?
  On weekends, I usually go to the gym, visit cafés, work on side-job, do assignments, and cook (new skills here in Germany). During holidays, I love exploring new cities in Germany, traveling to nearby European countries, and spending time in nature, which has become a new hobby of mine.
   
• Do you have tips for prospective international students?
  First of all, don’t overthink about choosing a fancy city. Just apply and secure your spot. The experience itself will teach you so much, no matter where you are.
   
• Do you already know what you want to do after graduation?
  Yes, I’m already planning my next move, but I’m keeping it under wraps for now.
   
• Additional information
  The university is really working on making the environment more international, so it’s easy to feel at home here. Pforzheim’s location is great too, with lots of big companies nearby. Learning some German is super helpful for daily life and work, and everyone here is really friendly. Life balance is great despite the many assignments. You’ve got nature just around the corner, Stuttgart’s shopping and city life only a 30-minute train ride away, and many other exciting places are just a quick train ride from here.

Study program: MBA International Management (M.Sc.)

• Where did you grow up / live before coming to Pforzheim?
  I was born and grew up in Lima, Peru.
   
• Where are you now located (geographically and job wise)?
  I am currently based in the countryside in Rheinland-Pfalz, close to Koblenz, and I work as an Associate Manager at Accenture GmbH.
   
• When looking back on your time at Business School Pforzheim…
• What’s something about this program you couldn’t have experienced anywhere else (or in your home country)?
  What I could not have experienced in the same way anywhere else is the combination of intercultural exchange and direct exposure to German industry. Studying with people from different countries allowed me to understand how cultural backgrounds influence approaches to business problems and decision-making. In addition, visiting German companies gave me first-hand insights into how they operate, the challenges they face, and the strengths behind their global competitiveness. Together, these experiences gave me a much more practical and global understanding of business than I would have gained in my home country alone.
   
• What’s your fondest memory of your time as a student here?
  My fondest memory of my time as a student at HS Pforzheim is the friendships I built there. I met many great people, and over time they became very close friends. We not only studied together but also spent a lot of time traveling and exploring different countries. What I value most, however, is the everyday experience of being surrounded by such a positive and supportive group of people — whether it was spending time together in the student residence or going out to the Irish Pub. These simple, shared moments are what I remember most fondly.
   
• What surprised you most while studying at Business School Pforzheim?
  The level of support provided to international students. The university not only shared useful information but also organized get-togethers and short trips to help students integrate. Thanks to this support, I was able to quickly meet new friends, and it was especially valuable to have people to turn to with questions when I first arrived in Germany. Overall, it made the transition much smoother than I had expected.
   
• Can you tell us about an experience or a person you met during the program who left a lasting impact on you?
  During the MBA program, I met one of my closest friends, Nina, who had a lasting impact on me. She helped me learn to trust my intuition more and let go of the need to control every detail. As someone who naturally tends to be very analytical, I initially focused on over-planning and optimizing decisions. Through her example, I realized that this approach can sometimes slow progress, especially in fast-moving environments. This shift has helped me become more adaptable, more confident in my judgment, and more comfortable making decisions without having complete information.
   
• What’s one mindset shift you had during the program that still guides you today?
  One mindset shift I gained during my MBA program was learning to understand the reasoning behind someone's conclusion before agreeing or disagreeing with it. The program exposed me to classmates from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds, and it became clear that two people could look at the same data and arrive at different conclusions—not because one was right and the other was wrong, but because they prioritized different assumptions, objectives, or success criteria. Since then, I've made it a habit to ask about the criteria people use to evaluate a situation before forming my own opinion. This has helped me collaborate more effectively, have more productive discussions, and ultimately broaden my perspective.
   
• What’s the most valuable takeaway / lesson from the program that has made a difference in your professional life?
  The most valuable takeaway from my MBA in Germany was developing a more structured and strategic approach to decision-making. Instead of focusing only on immediate problem-solving, I learned to step back, consider the broader context, evaluate alternatives, and think about long-term impact. In my professional life, this has helped me make more deliberate decisions by balancing analytical thinking with business objectives, and contribute more strategically rather than focusing solely on execution.