EBS: You were recently honoured as one of the WiWi Talents of the Year 2025. Congratulations! What does this award mean to you personally and how have your studies at EBS influenced both your academic and professional career? 

Miriam Katlapinski: This honour means a great deal to me as it is a recognition of all the hard work and dedication I have invested in my studies and project work. Studying at EBS has not only provided me with in-depth subject-specific knowledge but also strengthened my personal and professional skills. The practical teaching methods, especially the projects in cooperation with well-known companies, have substantiated my plans for my professional future.

Elias Bichara: Receiving this award is an incredible honor and very motivating. Unlike grades, it provides a very tangible recognition of our efforts, and I’m very proud of what Miriam and I have achieved over the past year and a half. Beyond the fantastic content of the M.Sc. program, I believe EBS has influenced and supported me in two main ways. First, the university fosters a distinct competitive and collaborative spirit that you quickly sense, and it can have a very positive impact. It has made it easier for me to push myself because it is considered a given by many of the people around you at EBS. I find such environments to be very motivating. And second, EBS takes a thoughtful approach to career development, be it through coaching for personal development, workshops for salary negotiations, or projects with and for recruiting companies.

EBS: During your studies at EBS, which projects or initiatives, and which professors or mentors have particularly influenced and inspired you?

Elias Bichara: I have a feeling Miriam and I are going to be naming the same projects. For me, the highlights were the Marketing Consulting Field Study and Strategic Offering Management. I really enjoyed that we were able to work with companies like L'Oréal, BMW, Accenture, etc., on their current and real challenges - it was an incredibly valuable experience.

As for professors, I didn't have a single professor at EBS who wasn't outstanding, but I’ll mention two. Prof. Dr. Mattmüller provided the fantastic cases I just mentioned, in which I personally learned a lot. And Prof. Dr. Henkel impressed me with his exceptional public speaking skills - if I can one day communicate half as well as he does, I’ll be on a great track. Right now, Isabel Herbold serves as a mentor to me. As an EBS alumna and coach, she’s been supporting me with my applications. Her industry experience and insights have been incredibly helpful - another great example of EBS’s career approach.

Miriam Katlapinski: During my studies at EBS, I was particularly influenced and inspired by the projects in collaboration with BMW and Accenture as part of the "Marketing Consulting Field Trip". These projects provided fascinating insights into the future of international business and had a demanding project timeframe and scope.  Although challenging, the experience of working in a team on two such complex topics at the same time was also very worthwhile. This enabled me to perfect my project management and teamwork skills.

EBS: How did you benefit from the networking opportunities and contacts you made at EBS and what skills and knowledge gained at EBS do you find most valuable for your future career?

Miriam Katlapinski: By working closely with fellow students, professors and industry experts, I was able to build a strong professional network, which time and again opened doors when looking for an internship. The contacts with companies from practical projects were particularly valuable as they gave me inspiring insights into practice and potential career paths.

During my study programme, I was able to improve my presentation and communication skills in particular, as the marketing courses involve many presentations and discussions. In addition, thanks to the many challenging projects, I was able to improve my project management skills. Through the various group activities with international fellow students, I was also able to demonstrate my social skills in an international context. Studying in English and the daily exchange with international students has brought my language skills to a business fluency level.

Elias Bichara: The EBS network is, of course, very special and incredibly established in the German economy. What stood out to me when meeting alumni is the immediate connection that studying at EBS creates in these conversations. I assume this is because both students and alumni strongly identify with the EBS experience. However, I believe the value of my EBS network will peak in 15-20 years, as my friends establish themselves professionally.

As for skills, one that stands out is the structured approach to problem-solving we learned in Marketing Strategy. A significant part of our work was spent precisely defining and summarizing the problem before considering solutions. By doing this, the path to solving the problem often became incredibly clear before we even discussed potential answers. I later learned that this approach is quite similar to problem-solving in physics, where a deep, systematic analysis of the problem often leads to self-evident solutions.

EBS: How do you envisage your career path after graduation and what are your long-term professional and personal goals?

Miriam Katlapinski: After graduating, I plan to work in the automotive industry. In the next one to three years, I would like to take on responsibility in projects focussing on marketing and sales strategies. My longer-term goal is to take on responsibility for personnel, as I have always felt very comfortable in the role of team leader with my fellow studetns and would also like to develop my leadership skills in this area.

Elias Bichara: In September, I plan to join strategic marketing in the luxury industry, an area that I find fascinating for its unique blend of creativity, heritage, and strategic decision-making. Whether it’s product development, brand strategy, retail, or another exciting field, I look forward to working in a segment such as watches, fine wine, fashion, or even automotive. While I’m sure my long-term goals will become clearer once I secure the right position and company, I could see myself striving for a senior leadership role in the future. Regardless of where my career takes me, I already look forward to returning to EBS one day to recruit talent!

EBS: Is there that one special moment or one special experience during your time at EBS that you will never forget?

Elias Bichara: Because of how secluded and tightly knit EBS is, the student life is unique. Studying at EBS, you frequently receive a message along the lines of “At the crane in 10?” or a seemingly random location in the vineyards and then experience surprisingly large EBS get-togethers. The spontaneity and vibe of these events is unique to EBS and something I already miss. Oestrich-Winkel may be in the middle of nowhere and EBS a demanding university, but we do find the time to have fun.

Miriam Katlapinski: The best moments were when fellow students became friends; for example, during night-time study sessions when we got to know each other from a previously unknown, very personal perspective. This has meant forging friendships for life.

EBS: What qualities do you think make a successful leader and how did EBS help you to develop them?

Miriam Katlapinski: A successful leader is characterised by empathy, decisiveness and the ability to motivated and inspire a team. Thanks to the many practice-oriented group assignments, EBS gave me the opportunity to lead the respective working team naturally, without being directly nominated as team leader. I took on the leadership role without actually agreeing on this previously by encouraging my fellow students to achieve the best results as a team. 

Elias Bichara: EBS hasn’t explicitly taught us how to lead but rather provided us with the individual building blocks and the opportunity to learn by doing. For example, in the Marketing Consulting Field Study, we had to think strategically and make real decisions, while an entire day was dedicated to practicing how to structure and deliver presentations - all of which are essential leadership skills, even though they weren’t part of a dedicated leadership course.

As for my personal leadership style, I believe it will continue to develop as I gain more experience, especially since leading in a university setting is very different from leading in a corporate environment. I remember Nasar-um Minullah Virk, a senior lecturer at EBS, once saying in a counseling session that we may already be in one of the most difficult leadership situations of our careers - learning to lead without having any formal authority. That perspective stuck with me.

EBS: What do you do in your free time to find a balance to your studies?

Miriam Katlapinski: To find a balance to my studies, I take breaks during the week to recharge my batteries and get motivated. Then I meet up with my friends to talk about topics other than university ones. I also enjoy drawing, as it helps me switch off and think about something else.

Elias Bichara: During my time in Oestrich-Winkel, I regularly went jogging along the Rhine. The naturally level riverbanks made it a great route, and I’d always try to outrun the boats moving against the current. We’d also occasionally play indoor soccer, golf, spike ball, or go-kart racing – these things tend to get a little competitive at EBS. Social life was just as important to me. But at EBS, you almost don’t have to plan for that - you can’t walk across campus without running into friends.

EBS: What advice would you give current EBS students for their future?

Miriam Katlapinski: My most important advice to current EBS students is to take full advantage of the many opportunities EBS has to offer. Take the opportunity to participate in projects and initiatives that interest and challenge you. Seek discourse with fellow students from other countries and cultures on study topics, but also in your free time. These experiences are invaluable and the perfect preparation for your professional career.

Elias Bichara: While feedback often focuses on what you can improve - and we naturally tend to dwell on it - you ultimately thrive by leveraging your strengths, not by compensating for every weakness. Of course, you should take areas for improvement seriously, but don’t lose sight of what you already do exceptionally well - those unique abilities, perspectives, and passions that energize you. By doubling down on your natural talents, you distinguish yourself and find genuine fulfillment in your work. Identify and build on them at EBS and beyond, and you’ll create a trajectory that feels both authentic and rewarding.

EBS: Thank you very much for the interview and all the best for your future academic and professional endeavours!

Here you can find more information about the Master in Marketing at EBS