Full-time MBA careers: a simultaneous shift in country, industry, & role

Although Full-time MBA (FTMBA) alum Farah Nafi' only graduated 18 months ago, her life has changed a lot since coming to Germany to join ESMT. She now has a new role in a new industry – and is based in a new city, country, and continent. 

In this blog, Farah, Class of 2025, explains how the FTMBA program has been a catalyst for these changes and how the determined yet adaptable mindset she developed at ESMT comes into play “every single day” in her role leading marketing for a hospitality loyalty program. 

Farah also shares some of her wider highlights, from what it was like to become one of Poets and Quants 2025 Best & Brightest MBAs, to how her cohort’s diversity “enriched every classroom debate and group project.” 

Hi Farah, could you please introduce yourself? 

I’m Farah, an ESMT Full-time MBA alum from the Class of 2025. Originally from Jordan and Palestine, I moved to Germany to pursue my MBA and have since settled into my post-MBA career in loyalty marketing. Outside of my professional life, I’m passionate about continuous learning, staying active, and exploring new cultural and culinary experiences. 

You were one of Poets&Quants 2025 MBAs to Watch. Congratulations! What does it mean to you to represent ESMT on this list? 

It is a huge honor. Completing an MBA is an achievement in itself but having that hard work recognized publicly gives you a special sense of pride and a healthy boost in confidence. 

What makes representing ESMT on this list particularly meaningful to me is the school’s holistic view of success. ESMT doesn't just focus on academic excellence; it values character, leadership, and personal growth. Being recognized in this way reaffirmed that you can be deeply analytical and academically driven while staying true to your authentic personality. 

“Every single day, I rely on the frameworks and perspectives I developed at ESMT.” 

I lead marketing for a hospitality loyalty program. Every single day, I rely on the frameworks and perspectives I developed at ESMT, especially when it comes to organizational behavior, cross-functional collaboration, and leading people effectively. 

Do you have any advice for current or prospective MBA students hoping to build a career in the hospitality industry or in marketing? 

First, master the underlying systems and operations. Understanding the technical “ins and outs” of how things are built gives you the foundation to drive real, impactful change. Second, balance intuition with data: remain deeply analytical in your strategy, but stay authentic in your communication. 

Your post-MBA career has been a “triple-jump”– you have changed location, industry, and function. What has it been like to experience so much change? 

It was challenging, to say the least. While I’ve always considered myself adaptable, navigating a simultaneous shift in country, industry, and role tested me on a whole new level. I experienced high highs and demanding lows. Over time, I came to peace with the process when I realized that holding mixed, complex emotions through transition is simply a sign of maturity and growth.

Was changing industry one of your motivations for joining the Full-time MBA? Or was that a decision you got more clarity on during the program? 

Pivoting into a new industry was definitely one of my primary motivations for pursuing an MBA. However, the decision to focus specifically on hospitality crystallized during the program, largely thanks to the guidance and clarity I gained through ESMT’s coaching program. 

You moved from Jordan to Berlin for the MBA. Were you actively looking to build a career in Germany? How did ESMT help with that transition? 

“Building a career in Germany was a key goal from the start. ESMT was instrumental in making that transition seamless.” 

Yes, building a career in Germany was a key goal from the start. ESMT was instrumental in making that transition seamless. Both the Career Development Center and the Office of Student Affairs provided clear, actionable guidance from day one on navigating the job market and fulfilling the administrative requirements to establish a career here. 

You have relocated to a smaller German city after the MBA. Has it been important to learn German for life there? When did you start learning? 

For work, English remains my primary language, but for daily life in a smaller city, learning German has been essential. Right after graduation, I enrolled in three consecutive intensive German courses over the summer. I treated learning the language as my full-time job, practicing constantly, which helped me make significant strides before starting my post-MBA role. 

“Making deep friendships gets harder as we get older, but going through such an intense, transformative year together created a lasting bond.” 

The Class of 2025 was incredibly diverse in backgrounds, professional experiences, and perspectives, which enriched every classroom debate and group project. I’ve definitely stayed in touch with a core group of classmates whom I now consider close friends. Making deep friendships gets harder as we get older, but going through such an intense, transformative year together created a lasting bond. 

What are some of your favorite memories from your time at ESMT? Did you get the chance to take part in any extracurriculars? 

I served on the leadership team of the ESMT Women’s Leadership Club, which was a rewarding experience. Beyond that, my fondest memories are of the late-night study sessions with my group – turning long days into evening collaborations, solving complex assignments, and learning from one another. 

What is it like to be part of the ESMT Alumni community? Do you have any chances to return to the ESMT campus? 

“ESMT remains a home base for me in Europe, and I look forward to returning to campus soon.” 

While I haven't had the opportunity to participate in in-person alumni events yet, simply staying connected through the alumni network and updates gives me a continuous sense of belonging. ESMT remains a home base for me in Europe, and I look forward to returning to campus soon. 

If you could go back, what advice would you give your pre-MBA self? 

I wouldn't give her any advice. Every mistake, uncertainty, and triumph was a necessary part of the journey. Trusting the process as it unfolded made the experience what it was. 

Thank you, Farah! 

Farah Nafi' is Manager of Loyalty Marketing at H World International, a multi-national company that owns eight major hotel brands. You can see more of Farah’s journey by following her on LinkedIn.