THOMAS HOFER

WHAT WAS YOUR EDUCATION PRIOR TO STUDYING AT EDHEC?

Prior to studying at EDHEC I have completed a BA (Hons) Degree in Photography and Film and worked for a few years as a product manager for a company in the Film Industry in London.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE MSC IN MANAGEMENT STUDIES?

There were a few factors that made my decision to pursue the MSc in Management studies at EDHEC in Lille. An easy one: the programme by design is very international and held entirely in English. This allowed me to make friends with students from all over the world, whilst living in France, both improving my business English, and my French language skills. Lille also is a fantastic location, offering quick access to three European capitals via the Eurostar. The MSc offered also a very similar curriculum to an MBA, whilst being shorter. The value for money you get with the MSc is hard to beat, especially since EDHEC is a Grande École with an international reputation.

WHAT IS THE MAIN TAKEAWAY OF THE TRACK?

What really surprised me about the course was the focus on leadership, soft-skills, and teamwork that existed throughout the course. In my year, we had around 38 students from 17 different nationalities, and we were constantly working together in different teams on various projects at the same time. I must have easily worked in over 20 different teams within the ten months of the course. Naturally, starting in a new team always requires some adjusting in order to perform well, and due to the fast-paced nature of the projects, we had to become very good at identifying and playing to the strengths of all team members very quickly. This, in turn, has a great bonding effect, and you feel part of a bigger group that creates their own culture. Working together was the best learning experience I ever had, not just regarding the curriculum, but learning about myself as much as I learned about my peers. I can honestly say, that I have made some of the best friendships of my life at EDHEC!

WHAT COURSE HAS INSPIRED YOU THE MOST?

The fantastic people that I had the pleasure to meet and to work with at EDHEC! Learning about and learning from different people, cultures and different values. The feedback and the encouragement we got from our professors through generative listening and through coaching. Additionally, the EDHEC campus was a great hub to socialise with people from all over the world, join different clubs and societies and constantly participate in start-up or networking sessions.

HOW DOES IT HELP YOU IN YOUR CAREER?

Graduating with a Master’s in a business-related subject added real value to my career prospects. After graduation, I was hired as a business development manager by a global customer-engagement solutions provider. EDHEC’s MSc in Management Studies gave me a profile that stood out, combining creativity with a solid foundation in management and business. In addition to our course work, we had regular CV-writing workshops and assessment-centre training sessions, both of which were really useful when it came to taking the next step after university. Another aspect of my course at EDHEC that was not only helpful in my career, but also in my personal life, was the mix of students. I think around half the people in our year had a business degree prior to embarking on the MSc in Management Studies, while the rest came from backgrounds as diverse as pharmaceuticals, music, law, and engineering. This resulted in a very diverse group of students, all of us exposed to new cultures, new values and new ways of thinking and working. It greatly broadened my horizons, my cultural adaptability, and my problem-solving skills. What’s more, EDHEC has a fantastic alumni network that is active all over the world.

When I moved to Munich the new job and the local EDHEC alumni group was a great way to meet new people and make friends.