Sara Pepic graduated from the Full-Time MBA program in 2019, working with software giant Microsoft in 2020 and moving to Google in 2022. Aside from an impressive CV, she is affable, intelligent, and open-minded, who undoubtedly has a passion for people and her work. We caught up with her to find out more about her MBA journey and what she learned along the way.
Why did you choose WHU for your MBA studies?
When researching the top business schools, I saw WHU had a great position in the Financial Times ranking and was top in Germany. I was interested to know where the WHU alums were working, so I looked on LinkedIn to learn more. This attracted me to WHU as I saw many graduates working worldwide, and they were still connected to each other. Dusseldorf is also one of my favorite cities in Germany, so when I found out the WHU campus was located there, I decided it was the perfect fit for me.
“Investing into your skills and knowledge always pays back.”
I considered studying part-time at first, but as the full-time program is so international, I wanted to meet those people, learn about other cultures, and fully experience the MBA. I liked that it is in English so I could sharpen my English skills too. Of course, choosing to study full-time was a challenging decision, even though I knew I would have better career options afterward. There was still uncertainty and risk. However, I knew it would be worth it: investing in your skills and knowledge always pays back.
What motivated you to study for an MBA?
By 2018 I had lived in Germany for a few years, and it was my first real experience working there. I was a marketing manager for a software company. I wanted to study again as I only had my bachelor’s degree from my home country, Bosnia. I was ready to broaden my perspective and establish myself as an expert when talking to an organization and c-level executives. I wanted to understand different businesses and industries, as well as expand my network in Germany. It was also to prepare myself for management responsibility in the future, as I enjoy working with people and leading diverse teams. I saw an MBA at WHU could offer me all of that.
At the time, my career goal was to work with leading technology companies like Microsoft and Google. I applied to Google and Salesforce then, and my CV didn’t even make it through their screening process. I knew completing an MBA could help me reach this goal.