ALUMNI MEET CURRENT STUDENTS in the winter semester 2025-2026

Toward the end of the winter semester, we had the pleasure of welcoming seven former MBA students back to campus for the “Alumni Meet Current Students” event. We always look forward to these events, as they are full of insights, valuable connections, and a lot of fun.

In the first round of the meeting, our alumni introduced their professional journeys and shared recommendations on how the MBA program was useful to them, as well as how they applied the key takeaways from the program in their careers.

Rupert Rivera, Technology Manager at EY, MBA calss 2020

He began his career as a working student at EY, where he gained experience in both consulting and technology. He was later promoted to product manager at IONOS. After some time, he returned to EY as a full-time consultant and is currently working as a technology manager. His role has included international assignments in Portugal, India, and the United States, giving him global exposure. He emphasized that meeting C-level executives during company visits is a major opportunity and encouraged students to step out of their comfort zones by improving their public speaking skills and achieving at least a B2 level in German to remain competitive in the job market.

Ayca Alpman, Senior Director at Deloitte – Deal transformation, Strategy, Risk and Transaction Advisory, MBA class 2004

An alumna from Istanbul described her transition from financial controlling in Turkey to specializing in international management consulting in Germany. After completing her MBA, she spent several years at EY, working in Paris and Zurich with a focus on mergers and acquisitions and transaction advisory, including a period in the United States. During the pandemic, she briefly left EY to start her own consulting company before returning in a senior role. Her main advice was to actively leverage networking as one of the strongest advantages of the MBA program and to adopt a mindset of trying new things, even if they do not always succeed.

Mavin Davies, Information Security Compliance Specialist at SAP, MBA class 2021

A graduate from India (Class of 2021) shared his journey from pharmaceutical SAP implementation and sales in Dubai to a career in cybersecurity in Germany. By leveraging networking and referrals from classmates and juniors, he secured positions at Jedox and DeepL before joining SAP, where he now leads customer security audits. He emphasized that networking played a decisive role in his career progression and advised students to focus on soft skills such as people management and the ability to clearly present ideas in a concise two- to three-minute pitch to senior leadership.He also highlighted that in developing soft skills, not only words matter, but body language, awareness, and emotions play an important role as well. Through his experience, he learned the importance of setting boundaries and developing the ability to say no.

Paritosh sharma, Team Lead After Sales Systems at Bosch Power Tools, MBA class 2016

An alumnus from India moved from a background in electrical engineering into product management at Bosch Power Tools. He initially pursued a career in consulting through internships at MBG and Deloitte but later realized that he preferred the hands-on aspect of developing products. His key advice was to become an “application machine” and start applying for jobs from day one, rather than waiting until after completing the thesis. He reminded students that the degree itself is only a vehicle, and that securing a job is the ultimate goal, which requires continuous practice through interviews.

Govinda Ahuja, Head of Strategy and Business Development at Yageo Nexensos, MBA class 2014

He started his career in Germany at 1&1 after completing an MBA with a focus on marketing. Alongside his professional work, he is in the final stages of completing a PhD. He advised students to use the MBA as a tool to explore different areas through working student positions and internships in order to identify their true interests. He also highlighted the importance of showing empathy toward HR by tailoring applications to demonstrate a strong fit for each specific role. He mentioned that with an MBA degree, one can discuss business topics at a deeper level, which is essential in the job market. Additionally, he emphasized that batchmates are not competitors, but rather peers who can learn from one another and grow together.

Engin Kerem Ketici, Global Pricing Manager at XSYS Germany GmbH, MBA class 2011

A Turkish alumnus with a background in industrial engineering moved to Germany to gain international experience and eventually found his specialization in strategic pricing. Entering the job market during a challenging period, he accepted a demand planning role at Goodyear as a way to get his foot in the door. Within one and a half years, he successfully transitioned internally into a pricing role. Now working at XSYS, he encouraged students to learn by doing, remain persistent despite setbacks, and view internal mobility as a realistic path toward achieving their desired roles. He emphasized that entering a company does not always mean immediately reaching one’s ultimate goal; persistence is key, and even if one door closes, another opportunity is likely to open.

Kerstin Keteci, Team Lead sales Analytics at Bosch Mobility solutions, MBA class 2011

Kerstin, a German alumna, transitioned from event organization into a long-term career at Bosch, where she now works in process standardization and data analytics. She highlighted the lasting value of the MBA’s soft skills courses, particularly leadership profiling, which she continues to apply in her professional life. She also shared insights on work–life balance, noting that she has advanced into talent pools at Bosch while working part-time to raise a family. She advised students not to compromise their health for career advancement.

After the second round, which focused on general questions, the main takeaway was that in today’s challenging labor market, candidates should concentrate on securing interviews and remain patient, consistent, and positive. Success depends not only on skills and experience but also on the ability to effectively present oneself through clear communication and a compelling personal story. Interviews are increasingly centered on human connection rather than purely technical expertise, making communication style, emotional intelligence, and the ability to create a positive impression especially important. Structured communication, the ability to read the room, and asking relevant questions were highlighted as key factors for interview success.

The evening then moved into the informal third round, where, over pizza and drinks, we had the opportunity to discuss our ideas, experiences, and future industry trends with the alumni. We also gained valuable insights into current job opportunities and how we can better prepare for the roles that lie ahead.

A big thank you to all the alumni who accepted the university’s invitation and shared their time and experiences with us.

Text: Hoori Mirzaeiazar, MBA 
Picture: Sejla Begic, MBA Team