Why did Shalini choose to pursue an MBA in Leipzig?
For someone looking for a fresh start, there’s perhaps no better place to find one than in Germany. It’s a country that has had to refresh and reinvent itself at various points in history, creating a drive, ambition, and get-up-and-go attitude that pervades all levels of society.
Indian MBA student Shalini had never left her home country before coming to study in Leipzig. However, after completing a master’s degree and working as a strategy manager in her homeland, she identified Europe as the place to make her own fresh start. It wasn’t long before Germany emerged as the perfect place to complete an MBA.
“I was looking for something in Europe in general,” she tells MBAGRADSCHOOLS. “I picked two or three countries where I wanted to go and Germany was one of them for obvious reasons. I also had some personal reasons for choosing Germany, so given those and the market scenario and everything I felt Germany was the perfect fit.” (00:50)
Germany is a leading European study destination. Six German schools featured in the 2021 Financial Times European Business School Ranking, making it the third-most represented country in Europe after the UK and France. Germany is also one of the most popular international study destinations for Indian students. This strong reputation for higher education, along with a strong economy and welcoming work culture, was ultimately why Shalini studied an MBA in Germany.
“I was not only looking for a good MBA but also to find somewhere offering professional experience and a good working culture, so Germany was a good fit for that,” she adds. (01:17)
The lure of Leipzig
As an east German city, Leipzig has faced greater economic challenges than the traditionally wealthier western German cities. After facing near-economic ruin in the 1990s, it is now a city revitalized. It’s the most liveable city in Germany with a burgeoning international student population and booming startup scene. Shalini found Leipzig an inspiring place to study.
“For me, Leipzig was always going to be special, because it was the first international city I ever visited in my life,” she says. “I always say this to people: you have to go to Leipzig once in your life because it’s not too big, it’s not too small, but you can find every type of vibe in that city.” (10:38)
That sense of reinvention runs through every nook and cranny of Leipzig’s historic streets. People flock here to make a fresh start and take on new challenges. It has led to a young population with a startup, DIY mentality that mirrors that of its close neighbor, Berlin.
“It’s a [very] international city and there is a very young crowd because of the different universities there,” Shalini says. “Being close to Berlin also helps. If you want to build your own startup then the Berlin-Leipzig ecosystem is perfect for that.” (11:39)
What is “The HHL Spirit”?
HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management embodies the city’s entrepreneurial spirit. HHL alumni have founded more than 350 startups, making it the most entrepreneurial business school in Germany (see more impressive facts and figures here). One of the ways the school achieves this is through the New Leipzig Talents coaching program. Rather than focusing on networking or business skills, the program encourages students to focus on their personal growth.
“It’s based on four pillars – establishing trust with your colleagues, self-reflection, social mindfulness, and entrepreneurial spirit,” explains Shalini. “The entrepreneurial spirit isn’t just about starting a business; it’s also about [the] problem-solving [mindset and taking ownership].” (07:39)
Shalini says that everyone at the school talks about the so-called “HHL Spirit.” But it’s not just a buzzword to stick on a glossy brochure. It’s something that you can truly feel while you’re there. According to Shalini, the HHL Spirit was a real comfort to her while studying in Leipzig.
“I think I’m a self-proclaimed ambassador for this spirit because I really believed in it,” she shares. “Everyone – the professors, the staff, the administrative team – everyone believed in it and were always ready to help the students. As an international student in a foreign country, the idea that there was always someone ready to help me was a real comfort.” (02:55)
How HHL prepares its students for their future careers
HHL also gives you the practical skills and network you need to make a future success of your career. In a city with a real startup mentality, it’s fitting that the school has a support system to help entrepreneurs at every stage of their startup journey.
“HHL has this entire support platform [the HHL Incubator Digital Space] where you can take your idea from the ideation phase to final execution. You’ll find support at every step of the process. They also run a program to support women entrepreneurs in what they’re doing,” Shalini says. (12:21)
But it’s not all about startups at HHL. Students here will also benefit from the links the school has with the German business ecosystem, allowing them to gain practical work experience at established German companies. Furthermore, through the program’s student consulting project, you’ll not only get the chance to experience German work culture, but also start applying the skills you learned in your MBA in real-life scenarios.
“As an international student without any work experience in Germany, the student consulting project provides a nice peek into German work culture,” Shalini adds. “It’s a six-month project and you actually work with a real client on a real project. You can see how your project management or consulting skills could be used in real life.” (15:32)
There’s a reason why the HHL MBA is considered to be one of the best MBAs in Germany. The school takes the entrepreneurial spirit of the city and helps you use it to grow both personally and professionally. For Shalini, whose time studying in Leipzig was her first international experience, it turned out to be the perfect place for her to develop. The spirit of Leipzig is something that will stay with her forever.
If you want to hear more about why you should pursue an MBA in Germany, feel free to reach out to one of our MBA ambassadors.