Best of both worlds: expanding knowledge & network in the Part-time MBA

Tim Krewerth is a busy man. Not only does he have a full-time job at Deloitte, he also completing his Part-time MBA (PTMBA) at ESMT. And, on top of his studies, he makes time for extracurricular activities, from international exchanges to on- and off-campus talks. 

Business depends on people: Tim's story

In this blog, Tim outlines how he does it all. He explains how the blended format of the PTMBA program – and robust family support – allow him to find balance while also continuing to grow his network, knowledge, and career.

Additionally, Tim takes us through his PTMBA highlights so far, including mentoring a younger ESMT student, Berlin karaoke with his cohort, and Vancouver exploration with a group of executive peers.  

Hi Tim, could you please introduce yourself? 

Hi, I’m Tim, born and raised in Berlin – ein echter Berliner. I’m someone who enjoys good conversations, good food, being outside with my wife and our dog, and, more recently, trying to become a better golfer, with mixed results so far.

Professionally, I work at Deloitte, and alongside that, I’m doing the Part-time MBA at ESMT. For me, the MBA is a chance to keep learning, meet great people, and grow into the next stage of my career.

What drew you to a Part-time MBA program? Why ESMT specifically?

"Already, after the first weeks, I knew that the Part-time MBA was absolutely the right decision."

To be honest, at the beginning I was not fully convinced that a Part-time MBA was the right format for me. There is sometimes this perception that a Full-time MBA is the “classic” or “real” MBA experience. But already, after the first weeks, I knew that the Part-time MBA was absolutely the right decision.

What I really value is the online/in person combination. I can work through the online material at my own pace and organize my learning around professional and private commitments. At the same time, the regular residencies bring the cohort together on campus, with direct interaction with professors and peers. For me, that combines the best of both worlds.

ESMT became my clear favorite quite early. As a Berliner, the location obviously matters to me, but it was not only about location. I was drawn to the curriculum, the focus on leadership and innovation, and the fact that ESMT was founded by leading global companies, which gives the school a strong connection to business practice. The campus and its history also make it a very special place.

What really convinced me in the end were the people. Before applying, I joined Open House events, online sessions, and spoke with alumni and current students. What stood out was that everyone was genuinely enthusiastic about ESMT. It did not feel like marketing. It felt like people were real ambassadors for the school because they had experienced its value themselves.

With a demanding role at Deloitte, how do you create enough space for the Part-time MBA?

"The cohort itself is a big part of making it work. Most of us have demanding jobs and full lives outside the MBA, so there is a lot of understanding. Especially in the study groups, people support each other when a week gets a bit chaotic."

It is definitely demanding, but it is also a challenge I consciously chose. I am someone who needs to feel that I am still learning  and moving forward. I want to take on more responsibility in the future, and the MBA helps me build the perspective and confidence for that next step.  

My wife is probably the biggest reason why it works in practice. She gives me a lot of room during busy periods and often keeps things off my plate when work and university both become intense. That makes a huge difference, and I don’t take it for granted.

Of course, it also takes structure. Practically, I try to stay close to the workload during the week, because once things pile up, the weekend is gone very quickly. And the cohort itself is a big part of making it work. Most of us have demanding jobs and we have full lives outside the MBA, so there is a lot of understanding. Especially in the study groups, people support each other when a week gets a bit chaotic.

Since you started the PTMBA, what has changed about how you approach your work tasks? Have any particular modules or teachings stuck with you?

"The change is not one big dramatic shift. It is more in the small things: asking better questions, listening more carefully, thinking more about stakeholders, and being more aware of the human side of business problems."

Since starting the Part-time MBA, I would not say that I work in a completely different way. It is more that some things have become more conscious. I think I zoom out a bit more often now. The MBA brings me into discussions with people from very different roles and industries, and that naturally makes you look at situations from a slightly different angle. 

What has stayed with me most is how much business depends on people. We often talk about strategy, vision, processes or decisions, but in the end, progress depends on whether people understand the direction, trust the people around them, and are willing to move in that direction.

For me, the change is not one big dramatic shift. It is more in the small things: asking better questions, listening more carefully, thinking more about stakeholders, and being more aware of the human side of business problems.

What is it like to study partially online? Do the different online elements make the process smoother?

Studying partially online works very well for me, mainly because the online parts never feel isolated. A lot of the learning is self-paced, but there are enough touchpoints throughout the week to stay connected.

For all courses, we have regular TA sessions, which I find extremely valuable. The TAs are often ESMT alumni themselves, so they are strong on the academic content, but also understand the reality of doing an MBA next to a demanding job.

The study group also plays a big role. We usually meet every week, sometimes for assignments and sometimes just to exchange thoughts on the course. So even though a large part happens online, it never really feels distant. There is always some form of interaction, discussion, or exchange with the group.

What are the in-person modules like? Are they a good way to network with your cohort?

"The residencies are a great way to network, but it does not feel like formal networking. It feels more like building real relationships over time."

The residencies are definitely one of the highlights of the program. They are the moments where the program feels most alive, because the academic content, the cohort experience, and the campus all come together.

We usually go back into the course material with the professors, but in a much more applied way. A lot of the time is spent discussing cases that are close to real business situations, and that is where it becomes really interesting. You see how people from different industries and functions look at the same problem, what they focus on, and how they would approach it in practice.

The residencies are also important for the cohort itself. You spend time together not only in class, but also during breaks, dinners, or evening activities. In summer, we might play table tennis in the garden, and one of my favorite memories so far is definitely a karaoke evening with the group.

So yes, the residencies are a great way to network, but it does not feel like formal networking. It feels more like building real relationships over time.

What was it like to come to the ESMT campus and meet your cohort in person for the first time?

I had already been to ESMT before the program started, including Open House events and a few other occasions. But arriving there as an actual student was still different.

In the week before the official start, there was a networking event at ESMT where I already met a handful of my future peers. That made the first residency feel much more natural, because there were already a few familiar faces.

Meeting the cohort in person then felt very easy and open from the beginning. Fortunately, I can say that I feel very lucky with my cohort. Everyone probably says that about their own group, but I honestly could not have hoped for a better one. There was a very natural openness and energy in the room. 

You were able to attend the World Forum with some other students from ESMT. What was this like and how did it come about?

We had the opportunity through ESMT to apply for a spot at the World Forum in Berlin, and luckily, I was selected.

The event took place at the iconic Hotel Adlon, which already made the setting feel quite special. And then you walk into a room with people from politics, international organizations, business and civil society – it was a bit unreal, to be honest.

What I liked was that the discussions were not just abstract or detached from reality. The panels dealt with topics like democracy, AI, security, and technology, but in a way that felt very close to what is happening in the world right now. You could feel that these were not just theoretical debates, but questions with real consequences.

For me, it was simply a very impressive experience. Not only because of the names in the room, but because it gave us access to a level of discussion that you do not experience every day as a student.

Between your full-time work and your studies, do you have time to take part in any student clubs or other campus activities? What is this like?

"I got the chance to mentor a master’s student, which I really enjoy. It is a nice way to connect across programs and share some of my experience, especially with someone who is at an earlier stage in her professional journey.”

I try to make use of the ESMT experience beyond the core program as much as possible. I have joined events such as TEDxESMT Berlin, Today’s Global Leader with Christian Klein and Generations Talk.

I am also involved in the Net Impact Club as VP Consulting. For me, the interesting part is bringing people together around pro-bono consulting projects, connecting ideas, teams and partner organizations, and helping to turn good intentions into something more structured.

In addition, I got the chance to mentor a master’s student as part of the ESMT MentorMap initiative, which I really enjoy. It is a nice way to connect across programs and share some of my experience, especially with someone who is at an earlier stage in her professional journey.

During the GNAM Week exchange program, you attended UBC Sauder School of Business in Vancouver. Can you tell us a bit about this experience?

"It was exactly the kind of experience I hoped an MBA would offer. You learn in a different environment, meet inspiring people, get new perspectives, and discover a special place at the same time."

The week at UBC Sauder was incredible. The course was “Leading with Impact: People & Performance Management Strategies,” and I really liked how practical it was. A lot of it was about leadership in everyday situations: coaching, feedback, performance conversations, and how you support people in their development.

What made the week really special was the combination of the course, the people, and Vancouver itself. The city was honestly amazing, and I was lucky to have great company throughout the week. We spent a lot of time together beyond the classroom, exploring Vancouver and having conversations that went far beyond the course itself.

For me, it was exactly the kind of experience I hoped an MBA would offer. You learn in a different environment, meet inspiring people, get new perspectives, and discover a special place at the same time.

Do you think there is value in having this firsthand access to the culture of a different business school in a different country?

Absolutely. I think the value goes beyond seeing another campus or another teaching style. Of course, it is interesting to experience how a different business school approaches learning and discussion, but for me the real value was the people in the room.

Since the week was part of an Executive MBA format, the room naturally had a very high level of professional and leadership experience. For me, that made the conversations especially valuable. People were not only discussing concepts but connecting them to situations they had actually faced in their own organizations. That is what made the exchange feel very grounded and practical.

What has been your favorite moment from the Part-time MBA so far?

I would not reduce it to one single moment. What stands out to me is the overall feeling of being part of this program, learning from excellent professors, working with a strong cohort, and doing all of that at a school like ESMT, in such a historic building in the middle of Berlin.

The GNAM Week at UBC Sauder in Vancouver is definitely very high on the list. It brought together a new academic environment, inspiring people, great conversations and a truly special city.

But some of the best moments are also much smaller: a strong discussion in class, an evening with the cohort, or realizing that people you did not know before have become real friends.

Thank you, Tim!

If you have been inspired y this content and would like to hear more about Tim's experiences in the Part-time MBA, you can follow him on LinkedIn.