Benjamin

Why did I choose my programme?    
Since my early years of high school, I have known that I wanted to work within an international environment. While I did not know what exactly I wanted to pursue, and given that I was multiculturally curious by nature, I knew that it had to be something with an international focus. When I stumbled across International Business, I knew that it would be something for me. It had a high concentration of ambitious students, the teaching language was English, and it had a certain prestige surrounding it. Most employers also seemed to know about this study programme, so it would likely open a lot of doors once I made it to the other side. 

What do I like the best?    
After I enrolled in the IB programme, I quickly found out that corporate strategy was something for me. While I actually did not have any strategic courses up until this point, I have really enjoyed participating in case competitions. So, if you are considering pursuing a career in consulting or strategy, you should definitely try your shot at these competitions. Not only will you learn a lot about yourself under pressure, but you will also greatly improve a lot of crucial skills during these daunting 24 hours. And what better way to learn, than to do it alongside at team of friends? 

What do I think is difficult?    
One thing that can be really difficult when studying IB, is accepting that you might not be the best student, and that it is okay to not get the top grades all the time. Given the high GPA required for landing a spot in this study programme, it means that most of the students are very ambitious. Having grown up in a small town in rural Jutland, I was always used to being the best at everything I did. I had high expectations and almost always exceeded them. However, when I got to IB, the reality was suddenly different. There was suddenly a lot of students that were way smarter than me, and the difficulty level of exams is also much tougher than in high school. While it can be difficult to accept this reality, I think it important. Doing this, not only humbles you, but also distances you somewhat from the unhealthy pressure and expectations you might put on yourself. Focus on doing your best, that is what matters.

What would I have liked to have known before starting my programme?    
One thing I would have loved to know prior to enrolling in this programme, would be how the exam system at university is much different than in high school. At CBS, you get 3 attempts at every exam, which means that failing an exam is not the end of the world. Failing an exam is not frowned upon. 

What do I want to do after finishing my programme?    
After finishing my programme, I am planning on taking a master’s degree at CBS. As I am particularly interested in the strategic aspects of a corporation, I could see myself working with management consulting or more industry specific strategy roles down the line. I am particularly fond of the fashion and luxury industries, so in the long term, I would like to make a career within that field. Suffice to say, IB creates many career opportunities, and it can sometimes even be difficult to choose when you have so many doors open. 

If I could give myself a piece of advice, before starting it would be…    
Be yourself, and try not to compare yourself to others too much. Given that IB has a high proportion of very ambitious students, it is natural that people often tend to compare themselves to each other. This applies both in terms of the studies itself, but also in terms of jobs or career goals.

Furthermore, it seems to be my observation that students gradually tend to go towards pursuing the same things. It can quickly become an “unwritten rule” that consulting, investment banking or private equity are the superior careers to pursue, and anything but those 3 are inferior. 

However, if I were to give myself a piece of advice before starting, it would be to stay true to your own interests. Go for a career that you enjoy and are interested in. Pursue your intrinsic motivation, and do not purely rely on status and prestige. Those are also great things, but make sure to go for a career where you will be happy.