Lina Brinkschulte
"IE made it possible to have a truly international experience while using the skills learned in the classroom right away in the real world."
Q&A WITH LINA
Define your experience in the part-time MCMC in one word.
Challenging
In what ways do you think program has changed your life professionally and personally?
I learned a lot about myself. I think I found my place better in my professional surroundings, but the program also helped me understand a lot of cultural differences. It was super interesting to work with classmates from all over the world and it helped me realize some very German things about myself.
Even before the lockdown in April, we got to work remotely a lot, which prepared me for the new normal that we are facing right now. I don’t mind video conferences or giving presentations over the screen, we had a lot of opportunities to get used to it.
What was your favorite memory from your experience?
The second face-to-face period was my favorite. The classes were super interesting and the group had already formed their own rhythm, which made it so much fun to study together or to spend the little free time we had out and about in Madrid.
Why did you choose to study this program at IE?
It was clear to me that I wanted to attend a top school for my masters, but also that I didn’t want to quit my job while doing so. IE combined an international face-to-face experience with the ability to stay in Germany for my work. With the perk of finishing the program within 12 months.
What were some of the main challenges that you encountered on your way? How did your master program and IE help you through these challenges?
Being the graduating class of 2020 our last face-to-face period as well as graduation on the IE Campus was moved online. It wasn’t the end of our program that we had hoped for, but while all offices in Germany were closed and the workday was moved into the virtual world I benefited from being used to online classes and working virtually with my teammates for group projects. This made the start into what we call now “new normal” of my workday easier for me.
What is networking like in part-time MCMC?
The program is intense, as well during the face-to-face periods, as well as in between, going through it together definitely made us bond very quickly within the class. The high number of group projects require a lot of communication with classmates no matter where in the world they are. This way we never lost contact even in long periods without seeing each other in person. Today, over 6 months after finishing the program I still talk to some of my classmates regularly.
How was the experience of doing the master in a format that allows you to continue working while studying?
It was intense, I had just started a new job in January when the program started in April, so there was a lot going on during that time. In the end it took commitment and the discipline to sit down at the desk to read case studies at the end of a long day at work. The cool thing about it was that a lot of the things I learned I could connect to things going on in the company. It helped me understand decisions better for example regarding change management. The constant checking of “have I experienced this theory in real life” or “can I use this to make my work easier or better” helps to really understand and internalize what you learn in the classroom.
What advice would you give to students who are about to begin the program?
Know what you’re getting yourself into. I loved the program and I would recommend it, but it was no walk in the park. You need a lot of focus and discipline in order to get the most out of the classes and to still deliver in your job.
Use the opportunity to learn from your classmates as well as from your professors. The people in the class, are there for a reason, use the different cultures that form perspectives and ideas of how things should and can be done to challenge yourself and the work that you do.