Pforzheim University recently hosted a successful alumni meeting for its MBA students. The event brought together six alumni from the program to share their experiences, work, and insights with current students. The panel consisted of six esteemed alumni, Yamel, Zahra, Atri, Paula, Emre, and Rupert. The students in attendance, who were very keen to get first-hand information from the individual alumni, were from both, the first and third semesters.

The meeting started with each of the alumni introducing themselves, highlighting their work, and reflecting on their time in the MBA program.

Yamel Lima Baquero, an Advisor and Guide for companies and international professionals in Germany and a Consultant & Project Leader in the circular economy, is a proud member of the MBA Class of 2002 from Mexico. With previous experience as a consultant at Mercedes Benz Car Group within Daimler AG, she shared her wisdom on prioritizing and time management to be professionally and personally successful. She also spoke about gender equality in today's society and business world. She advised the students to focus, develop their niche and excel in it.

Rupert Rivera III, Senior Technology Consultant for EMEIA PAS Technology Consulting at EY Germany, is an alumnus of the MBA Class of 2020 from the United States. Previously, he worked in business development, product management and taught low-income students in Southern California. He has had international exposure as a Global Studies major during his Bachelor’s studies, having studied and / or worked in Freiburg, Berlin, Hamburg, Italy and the US. During the event, Rupert shared how his studies at Pforzheim University and experiences during the MBA are still relevant in his current role at EY where he can leverage various frameworks and methodologies to support his consulting work. He also emphasized the significance of networking opportunities and communication while pursuing an MBA at Pforzheim University.

Paula Murmann, an Energy Strategy Consultant at Accenture DACH with offices in Frankfurt and Stuttgart, is a proud member of the MBA Class of 2021 from Poland. With a background in oil, gas, and energy management from her studies in the UK, and experience at Siemens in power generation, she spoke about the importance of women's empowerment in male-dominated industries such as energy. She has also done project management in Spain and currently works on strategy for major energy consumers, including business modelling for energy setups.

Emre Kartoglu, Key Account Manager at Bioventus in Munich, is an alumnus of the MBA Class of 2011 from Turkey. He spoke about how he, as a student, connected well with the other international batch members and highlighted the importance of German language skills. With previous experience at Daimler and Hama GmbH, he has been a sales professional in the Turkish market. He also shared his journey from a sales professional at Moneygram to becoming a Key Account Manager for South and East Germany at Bioventus. He emphasized the numerous career opportunities that the MBA program offers to its students.

Zahra Oroumand, a member of the MBA Class of 2012 from Iran, currently works as product specialist at SAP. She spoke about the current demand for highly skilled professionals in the German labour market and the significance of company visits organized by the MBA for the professional development of students. She also shared her journey from being a consultant at SAP and emphasized the benefits of having a long-term career at the company. She advised the students to maintain laser-sharp focus during the MBA as well as later in their professional lives.

Atri Chakrabarti, a Pricing Specialist at Festool, is a member of the MBA Class of 2018 from India. He shared his experience of being hired for an internship through an alumni meet while he was still in the MBA program. He credits his good mentor, Adriana, another MBA alumnus at HSPF, for helping him with his professional growth. During his time at IONOS, he honed his skills in handling products, campaigns, and strategies. He also emphasized the significance of case studies in the MBA program.

A Q&A session followed the alumnis´ individual elaborations, where students had the opportunity to ask the alumni panel members questions and seek advice on their chosen careers, as well as ask more general questions about the university and the German job market.
After the Q&A session, the alumni and students enjoyed a relaxed and informal meet-and-greet session, complete with drinks and hot pizzas. The atmosphere was lively and enjoyable, with both alumni and students engaging in meaningful conversations and making valuable connections.
The alumnis´ contributions helped to create a truly enriching experience for the students and demonstrated the university's commitment to fostering a strong alumni network. In conclusion, the alumni meeting at Pforzheim University was a resounding success, providing valuable insights, advice, and networking opportunities for the current MBA students.

Text: Shantanu Damle, Class of 2024
Photos: MBA