This is how Philipp took the leap into international consultancy

From the very beginning of his career, Philipp knew two things. He loved the automotive industry – and he wanted to be a consultant.

He’d already achieved a bachelor’s degree in business. And he’d gained some impressive experience working for a large vehicle parts manufacturer in his native Germany. But he wanted to go further.

He says: “I wanted to be a consultant. And I knew that for this, I needed to gain a solid understanding of strategy. This wasn’t covered in my bachelor’s degree – and because the automotive industry is international, I was also looking for a truly international perspective.”

A hands-on approach

“I wanted to study at a business school in a well-connected city. It needed to have a fantastic programme – and rank highly. And it needed to be somewhere practical, somewhere that taught implementation and not just theory.

“I also thought that if I stayed in Germany, I would perhaps not challenge and evolve myself. When you move to a different country, meet new people and start a whole new programme of learning, you have the opportunity to develop not only professionally but also personally.”

Philipp’s research led him to Vlerick – and the Masters in International Management and Strategy.

He says: “It was exciting, fast-paced and always interesting. I especially liked that we worked in groups on projects. It wasn’t all theory and exam-based, it was learning through doing.

Working with top international companies

“We had projects with companies like Amazon and Lufthansa. My team and I had the opportunity to present our developed sustainability strategy in front of Lufthansa Management in Frankfurt.

“I loved Professor Kerstin Fehre’s strategy course because it helped me see things from a helicopter perspective. The course was really hands on and featured a lot of case studies.”

As part of Philipp’s studies, he delivered a consulting project for a global medtech company that specialises in implantable hearing devices.

He says: “We created a business case for a product that was being developed. We looked at how and where the product should be launched, pricing, profitability and distribution channels. The project was a combination of marketing and strategy – and it was very interesting and exciting to be a part of.”

Gaining an international perspective

Another hugely valuable part of Philipp’s Vlerick experience was the diversity of his class and the international outlook of the programme.

“My cohort was 50% Belgian students and 50% international students,” he says. “I studied with people from all over the world – from Colombia to India, and from China to the UK.

“This diversity became really valuable in group activities. You learned to listen, to understand different views and approaches. If you don't learn how to function in a group, and how to work with different kinds of people, different cultures and people from different professional backgrounds, you can’t be successful, especially in consulting.

“This diversity and group work definitely helped prepare me for the international world of consulting, where I’ve continued to work with people from across the world.

A motivator, communicator – and better version of himself

“I met so many great people on the masters programme. We studied hard together and then we’d go out together in Brussels for a Stella Artois. It was so nice. I’m still in touch with many people – and I’ve visited some of them in their home countries.

Communication was also a skill that Philipp honed at Vlerick. He says: “I developed hard skills and soft skills. The programme made me a better motivator, communicator – and a better version of myself.

“I evolved into someone who can learn in fast-paced environments – and really dig deep into different topics. The programme taught me how to give and receive great feedback – which is essential in consulting. It’s all about being hard on the facts, but soft on the people.”

The confidence to succeed

Philipp also took advantage of Vlerick’s dedicated career and coaching services. He says: “The coaching sessions helped me focus and prepare for interviews, gain confidence – and ultimately get a job in consulting.”

And of course, Philipp did become a consultant – most recently with Porsche Consulting, a leading strategic management consultancy.

He says: “We don’t just do concepts and PowerPoint slides. We also really help our clients to become better. We do the strategy and the implementation – something I learned how to do at Vlerick. The way we worked in the masters degree was very close to the way I work as a consultant now.”

And Philipp’s advice to anyone considering the Masters in International Management and Strategy is this: “Just take the leap. Trust the process, trust yourself, and do it.”