"The accreditation and reputation of the MBA program were one of the reasons to join the MBA program"
Yousra Emara from Egypt
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.
"From day one I loved the mix between theory and practice"
Eduardo Rodríguez from Mexico
Study program: MBA in International Management
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.
