Anna Sophie's journey from Paderborn to Colombia
Anna Sophie Steuber completed her International Business Studies (IBS) degree at Paderborn University eight years ago. During her time in Paderborn, the Hamburg native, who grew up in North Hesse, combined basic business knowledge with the foreign languages English and Spanish and is now at home in Colombia. Anna Sophie told us how her path led her to South America and how the IBS programme helped her.
Even today, the 32-year-old still looks back fondly on her time at Paderborn University and has particularly fond memories of campus life and the associated quick socialising with fellow students. The support offered by lecturers and the wide range of consultation hours also always gave Anna Sophie a good feeling. During her time as a student, she learnt to love Paderborn's small-town flair. In addition to the central location of the university, her favourite places contributed to this: "There were different places and spaces depending on the time of the semester," the 32-year-old enthuses about the student council parties in the Mensa Forum, long study meetings in the library or coffee breaks together in the first rays of sunshine in the summer semester.
Anna Sophie also has positive memories of the international focus of her IBS degree programme and talks about the large selection of partner universities and her semester abroad in Canada. She also got to know other students from abroad during the regular summer courses. This enabled her to organise her studies internationally and individually. The degree programme has given Anna Sophie the most important foundations for the international working world and has expanded her language skills and knowledge of other national cultures through numerous opportunities.
Welcome! Welcome! Bienvenido!
The former student has been working at the "AHK Colombia - German-Colombian Chamber of Industry and Commerce" in Bogotá, Colombia, for almost two years. When asked about her specific job title, the 32-year-old can therefore answer in three languages - because she is the Head of Membership and Public Relations, Directora Relaciones Corparatives Pùblicas and Head of Corporate and Public Relations. Anna Sophie laid the foundations for her multilingualism during her IBS studies, where she chose English and Spanish as her languages of instruction.
After completing her studies, she decided to further consolidate her Spanish skills and build on her basic business knowledge. So Anna Sophie decided to do a voluntary internship and travelled to Colombia for the first time. "I quickly made contacts there and received a job offer," the former student looks back today.
From university to everyday working life
Anna Sophie describes the transition from studying to working life as a "tough change". She quickly realised that reality is inevitably not comparable with the textbook and that the structures she had learned cannot simply be adopted. Nevertheless, looking back, the 32-year-old feels that her previous studies in Paderborn prepared her well, as the programme gave her a high degree of discipline and analytical thinking in particular. In addition, her studies in Paderborn made it easy for Anna Sophie to present her ideas and quickly find a suitable working method and approach right from the start of her career.
As Head of Membership and Public Relations, Anna Sophie works mostly on site in her new home in Bogotá. "Of course, we have a certain amount of flexibility and can work remotely if necessary, but there is a seven-hour time difference between Germany and Bogotá." In addition, the former student often commutes between two countries in her day-to-day work, which she summarises as "very exciting". However, she also openly admits that this daily routine is also associated with disadvantages, such as the lack of routine or stability. Even today, she still keeps in touch with former fellow students who lead a similar lifestyle to her own. "It definitely makes sense to surround yourself with similarly minded people who can also understand that you're not always there."
Making the most of your studies
For the 32-year-old, who now has both feet firmly planted in life and a job, the time she spent abroad during her studies still represents great added value in retrospect: "Students should use their studies to get a taste of many things," she therefore recommends. However, in a nutshell, she summarises that she would have included even more work placements in her studies today in order to gain even more practical experience and get to know her own preferences.
Anna Sophie has also realised how important it is not to be guided by existing stereotypes "at a young age" and to have the courage to make your own decisions and try things out. Business degree programmes are more diverse than they initially appear and - as Anna Sophie's own life path proves - are definitely helpful in gaining a foothold in your dream job.
Do you want that too?
Discover the diversity of economics in our Bachelor's degree programmes. Each degree programme usually lasts six semesters and prepares you for a career start or a postgraduate Master's degree.
More information about the B. Sc. International Business Studies programme
