CBS International Business School, 19 February 2020

Alumni Interview with Marie-Caroline

To-do lists and schedules make her heart-beat faster: Our bachelor's graduate Marie-Caroline Utsch is a real organisational talent. Since 2018, she has been responsible full-time for the marketing of Sky+ and runs her own event agency "Avec Marie - Events" for weddings and stag and hen parties on a part-time basis. We interviewed the Cologne native about this balancing act and her CBS degree course in "International Culture and Management".

CBS: Why did you apply for the bachelor's course "International Culture and Management" at Campus Cologne?

Marie-Caroline Utsch: I wanted to complete a business degree course, so that I could go in different directions later on. I also wanted to study in English. CBS then fulfilled all my requirements with the various specialisation offers.

CBS: What did you like best about your studies at CBS?

Marie-Caroline Utsch: The opportunity to gain practical experience outside of lectures, e.g. in the student initiatives, at events and during internships.

CBS: What does a typical working day at your company look like today?

Marie-Caroline Utsch: As Senior Product Manager, I pull together all the threads that contribute to the development and improvement of the product, so I am mainly busy being an interface and contact person for my colleagues in Customer Service, Marketing, Technology or IT. In addition, I evaluate data and market research results, look around the competition and consider how we can further advance our products. Daily life is rounded off by varied projects, whether strategic or operational.

CBS: What do you like about your work?

Marie-Caroline Utsch: Being a “fire extinguisher” or crisis manager, being in contact with so many different people every day and working in a fast-moving industry.

CBS: What typical cliché about your current position doesn't apply?

Marie-Caroline Utsch: I really didn't want to do anything with the media after leaving school - and where did I end up ...?

CBS: What are your career plans for the next few years?

Marie-Caroline Utsch: It's important to me not only to dedicate my work efforts to a large corporation, but also to develop something myself, which is why I founded my own event agency on a part-time basis.

CBS: How did studying at CBS prepare you for your current position?

Marie-Caroline Utsch: The studies were the perfect introduction to the business world, practical and personal. I knew almost all my fellow students in my year, did a lot of things besides the lectures and had the opportunity to gain practical experience outside the lectures which prepared me well for the professional world.

CBS: What would you give prospective students as advice?

Marie-Caroline Utsch: You don't have to know where you'll end up during your studies. Yes, you should have a vision of your professional future, but don't be afraid of taking detours. Opportunities arise if you keep your eyes open.

CBS: Thank you very much for the interview!

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CBS International Business School

CBS International Business School is a state-recognised private university of applied sciences for business. We offer accredited Bachelor's, Master's and MBA degree programmes in German and English on a full-time or part-time basis. Throughout Germany, the university is represented at three locations in Cologne, Mainz, and Potsdam.

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