Studying MBA And Building A Business


Hi Everyone,

I am looking for comments and suggestions regarding my plan of studying MBA in Germany,
I have a Ph.D. in the field of materials engineering and my career has been around research and academia with almost zero experience in a management position. Now, I am based in Indonesia. I will be 38 years old next year.

In the last 2 years, I am starting my consulting business in my field in Indonesia. And after Covid19 hit hard academia, I am thinking to switch my career fully into the consulting and trading businesses.

I am thinking to study MBA in Germany to start a business there. I read some pieces of information about

1. WHU
2. HHL
3. Mannheim
4. TUM
5. RWTH AACHEN
6. ESB Reutlingen
7. Esslingen
8. Frankfurt School of Finance

Am I old enough to study for an MBA with a background in Engineering PhD? Which school do you recommend the most? Is it eligible for an MBA student to build a business while still studying in Germany as a non-EU citizen?

I am thinking to study for an MBA in Germany for a long term plan to base my business in there.

Thanks for your input

Cheeers
Haris

Hi Everyone,

I am looking for comments and suggestions regarding my plan of studying MBA in Germany,
I have a Ph.D. in the field of materials engineering and my career has been around research and academia with almost zero experience in a management position. Now, I am based in Indonesia. I will be 38 years old next year.

In the last 2 years, I am starting my consulting business in my field in Indonesia. And after Covid19 hit hard academia, I am thinking to switch my career fully into the consulting and trading businesses.

I am thinking to study MBA in Germany to start a business there. I read some pieces of information about

1. WHU
2. HHL
3. Mannheim
4. TUM
5. RWTH AACHEN
6. ESB Reutlingen
7. Esslingen
8. Frankfurt School of Finance

Am I old enough to study for an MBA with a background in Engineering PhD? Which school do you recommend the most? Is it eligible for an MBA student to build a business while still studying in Germany as a non-EU citizen?

I am thinking to study for an MBA in Germany for a long term plan to base my business in there.

Thanks for your input

Cheeers
Haris
quote
Duncan

Language skills and network power will be key to business development. Many German schools will be cautious about your age, and some might be scared to say so. Certainly consider arriving one or two semesters early so you enter the MBA with excellent language skills and can thus network in German. 

HHL is great for entrepreneurs and its long format could be idea for a more manageable tempo to allow for language development. 

Language skills and network power will be key to business development. Many German schools will be cautious about your age, and some might be scared to say so. Certainly consider arriving one or two semesters early so you enter the MBA with excellent language skills and can thus network in German.&nbsp;<br><br>HHL is great for entrepreneurs and its long format could be idea for a more manageable tempo to allow for language development.&nbsp;
quote
Inactive User

In terms of the viability of starting a business in Germany as a non-EU citizen, yes, it's totally feasible. Whether it's profitable and self-sustaining, that's another story.

You'll need a not-insignificant level of German skills just to get in the door (file paperwork, etc.)

But most importantly, especially in terms of fundraising, will be networking. While you can do some of this in English, it would strongly be preferable to have a fluent command of the German language. 

You might also look into business accelerators, which might make things easier in some respects, but more complicated in others. I believe Microsoft runs (ran?) one out of Berlin, and there are others as well. 

In terms of the viability of starting a business in Germany as a non-EU citizen, yes, it's totally feasible. Whether it's profitable and self-sustaining, that's another story.<br><br>You'll need a not-insignificant level of German skills just to get in the door (file paperwork, etc.)<br><br>But most importantly, especially in terms of fundraising, will be networking. While you can do some of this in English, it would strongly be preferable to have a fluent command of the German language.&nbsp;<br><br>You might also look into business accelerators, which might make things easier in some respects, but more complicated in others. I believe Microsoft runs (ran?) one out of Berlin, and there are others as well.&nbsp;
quote

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