Michelle's degree programme full of flexibility and adventure
Michelle Rösener studied International Business Studies (IBS ) at Paderborn University from 2017 to 2023, followed by a Master's degree in Business Administration (BWL). The 27-year-old now lives in Cologne and works as a consultant in the field of workforce and organisation at Capgemini Invent.
Her career path was characterised by initiative and curiosity right from the start. Originally from Lower Saxony, she first went to Frankfurt after leaving school to work as a flight attendant. However, she always wanted to study - the combination of business subject areas and foreign languages in the IBS programme finally convinced her to come to Paderborn for her Bachelor's degree. She later decided to specialise more in organisational and human resources topics during her Master's in Business Administration.
Between lecture theatres, airports and university parties
Self-determined, fun and approachable - that's how Michelle describes her time at Paderborn University. The degree programme offered her the flexibility to combine her professional and academic interests. During the week she attended lectures, on Thursdays she went to university parties - and on some weekends she continued to work as a flight attendant. "I was actually always travelling - either in the lecture hall or on a plane. But I prioritised my studies, otherwise my study time would have been much longer. But I wasn't allowed to miss out on socialising either," Michelle recalls, adding with a smile: "I was one of the students who actually went to lectures regularly. You didn't necessarily have to pay 100% attention, but you always had the next weekend planned!"
A particular highlight for Michelle was her semester abroad in Paris - a stroke of luck, as she was able to enjoy the city to the full before the coronavirus pandemic changed everything. "Paris was an incredible experience, but I learnt to appreciate the German university system. Everything was much more school-like in France, whereas I had more freedom in Paderborn," remarks the now 27-year-old.
During her Master's degree, she also became involved in the economics student council. "Many of my friends from my Bachelor's degree left, but UPB was still a good fit for me. Through the student council, I was able to network, organise events and gain insights into university politics," she reports.
Internships as a game changer
After her semester abroad, Michelle completed an internship at Arvato in the HR department. She had already found the subject exciting at university, which is why she particularly enjoyed the HR modules with Prof Dr Martin Schneider's chair. This was followed by further positions at Claas in the area of personnel remuneration, at BASF in talent management and, parallel to her Master's thesis, at Volkswagen Group Consulting. "I can only recommend internships to everyone. Nothing is more useful than being able to say 'I've already done that' or being able to draw comparisons between employers," appeals Michelle.
A decisive moment for her was taking part in the John Molson MBA International Case Competition in Canada. Here she competed in a team from Paderborn University against international universities. The students worked on real company cases - perfect training for their later job in consulting. "We had to develop, present and implement solutions in the shortest possible time. We were able to apply what we had learnt at university in practice. This experience really helped me and got me excited about consulting," she recalls.
A lightning start in the world of work
Michelle received a job offer from Capgemini Invent even before completing her Master's degree - thanks to her network from the case competition and her broad CV. But before her career really took off, she had another adventure. "I always wanted to go on a ski season in the Alps!" she says with a laugh. So after completing her Master's thesis, she packed her bags and worked in Austria for a season - with the full support of her new employer, who was flexible enough to accommodate her start date. "This time was the perfect opportunity for me to take a break before I really started my career," she says.
Today, she works in Cologne and helps companies to make their HR and organisational structures fit for the future. Transformation, talent management and workforce strategies are the focus of her work. She particularly appreciates the close dialogue with clients and the opportunity to actively help shape change. "It's exciting to see how organisations are transforming and what role I can play in this," says the graduate. She is particularly fascinated by the challenge of analysing individual company structures and developing suitable strategies.
Michelle's tip for students
"Just say yes to more things - even if it means effort!" Her advice to students: Do internships, utilise networks and don't be afraid to break new ground. After all, she herself has proven that studying, travelling and a career don't have to be an either-or proposition, but complement each other perfectly. "You grow with every experience, even if it doesn't seem to fit perfectly into your career plan in a nutshell."
What Michelle would have liked to give her first-year self? "Don't stress so much - rely on yourself a little more!"
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
- to the Bachelor's degree programme in International Business Studies
- to the Master's degree programme in Business Administration
