Making the Berlin dream come true in the Full-time MBA

When Ting Han first visited Berlin as an exchange student, she was "deeply captivated" by the city's vibrancy, history, and atmosphere, and dreamed of making it her home. Seven years later, she has made the "dream come true:" Ting is now a Full-time MBA Class of 2027 student at ESMT Berlin.  

In this blog, Ting outlines her journey from Guangzhou, China to Berlin, Germany, via the USA. She also shares how the practical components of the Full-time MBA (FTMBA) program are helping her recharge her career and "move from the execution level to the strategy level" – something she draws on in her MBA internship at Berlin FinTech company Raisin.

And she explains how, alongside the academics, the FTMBA helps students find a place to belong. From co-chairing the Women in Leadership club, to joining the Berlin Global Dialogue, to being part of a cohort that has spontaneous dance breaks between lectures, Ting shares how she has found a home and a family at ESMT. 

Hi Ting, please introduce yourself

Hello everyone, my name is Han Yingting (Ting), and I'm from Guangzhou, China. I studied Philosophy and Public Policy in the United States for my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. 

After graduation, I chose to return to China. Before coming to Berlin, I worked at Gartner, an information technology research and analysis company, in customer success and stakeholder management. Currently, I'm pursuing a Full-time MBA in ESMT Berlin, primarily interested in startups, fintech, and international business strategy. I also continue to follow the fields of international relations and social impact.

In my spare time, I especially enjoy exploring different corners of Berlin with friends. I also run, and just found out this week that I've been selected for next year's Berlin Half Marathon, so I expect to be in "strict training mode" for the next six months!

Choosing to pause your career and return to school is an important but often difficult decision. What prompted you to make this choice?

"Returning to school wasn't a "pause" for me, but rather a "recharging" to lay a more solid foundation for the next stage of my career."

My experience at Gartner and previous consulting firms has given me the opportunity to gain in-depth understanding of different technology industries and to witness firsthand the various challenges faced by technology companies at different stages of development. This experience made me realize that to truly move from the "execution level" to the "strategy level," I needed a more systematic business knowledge framework and a network of contacts to support the transition. An MBA was the most logical choice for me.

Many companies develop five-year strategic plans, and I believe the same applies to personal career development. After working for more than five years, I began to seriously consider what kind of person I wanted to become in the "next five years." I've always believed that it's better to take the initiative and plan ahead than to passively wait for opportunities. Returning to school wasn't a "pause" for me, but rather a "recharging" to lay a more solid foundation for the next stage of my career.

Why did you choose to study in Germany?

I chose Germany primarily because of its strategic position in Europe. Germany is the core engine of the EU, and Berlin is the center of Europe's technology startup ecosystem. In today's rapidly reshaping global landscape, gaining a deep understanding of the EU perspective is an invaluable experience for me. Furthermore, Germany's comprehensive social security system and emphasis on work-life balance made me feel that this was a place where I could truly develop long-term.

And why did you choose ESMT Berlin?

"I've always hoped to return and live [in Berlin]. To be able to "make my dream come true" seven years later in this way is especially meaningful."

Several reasons led me to choose ESMT: its internationalization and small class sizes translate to higher-quality student-faculty interaction, more abundant resources per student, and deeper networking opportunities. Located in Berlin, ESMT is closely integrated with the city's science and technology ecosystem, making opportunities readily accessible for startups and fintech fields that interest me.

Furthermore, Berlin holds a special place in my heart. I spent a semester here as an exchange student during my graduate studies, and the city's rich history, vibrant culture, and unique atmosphere deeply captivated me. Since then, I've always hoped to return and live here. To be able to "make my dream come true" seven years later in this way is especially meaningful. 

"I believe ESMT's admissions officers also deeply consider the cohesion of the entire class during the admissions process. I feel very fortunate; my current MBA class is the most collaborative experience I've ever had throughout my academic career."

Regarding the learning environment, from what I understand, UK and USA’s business schools tend to be more individualistic and competitive. ESMT's small class sizes offer a completely different experience. 

I believe ESMT's admissions officers also deeply consider the cohesion of the entire class during the admissions process. I feel very fortunate; my current MBA class is the most collaborative experience I've ever had throughout my academic career. Everyone genuinely cares about each other: before exams, students proactively share study notes, and we spontaneously organize study groups. Students with finance backgrounds actively lead the class in tackling difficult points. This spirit of cooperation is truly invaluable. Moreover, although our class is small, it brings together students from over 22 nationalities, providing a truly diverse experience.

In terms of pace of life, the pace in the US is faster and more intense, while the German emphasis on boundaries ensures a genuine work-life balance, which impressed me deeply. From a career development perspective, American schools primarily focus on the North American market, while studying in Germany allows direct access to the entire European market. This is a significant advantage for those hoping to cultivate a deep presence in Europe.

You chose to do an internship for your summer option. Which company are you working with and how did you secure the opportunity?

In July, I began a full-time internship at Raisin, a Berlin-based fintech company, and will continue part-time as a working student after the new semester begins in September. This position was obtained after a company visit organized by the ESMT Career Development Center, and I am especially grateful for the school's support. This will be my first step into the fintech industry, and I am very much looking forward to gaining a deeper understanding of this field through practical experience.

Are you able to leverage any learnings from the Full-time MBA in your internship? What classes or workshops are you finding the most impactful?

"Beyond hard skills, the opportunities we had for networking and company visits really prepared me for stepping into a new working environment in a new country."

Definitely! Even though I wouldn't say there's a strict one-to-one connection between a specific class and every task, so many of the subjects and classroom discussions naturally showed up in my daily work. For example, Data Analytics and AI classes trained my structured analytical skills, which helped me jump right into building performance trackers and modeling data to spot commercial growth opportunities for partner banks. On the commercial side, having a solid foundation in strategy concepts and financial basics gave me immediate context on Raisin’s business model and how to navigate relationships with deposit-taking banks.

Beyond hard skills, the opportunities we had for networking and company visits really prepared me for stepping into a new working environment in a new country. They helped me feel confident taking ownership and initiative on projects, while giving me the tools to build meaningful connections and expand my professional network.

You secured the position after a company visit. What other companies have you visited and what is it like to learn about company cultures so directly?

Alongside our visit to Raisin, I also had the opportunity to visit Siemens Energy and Lufthansa Innovation Hub. Experiencing these environments directly gives you an immediate feel for a team's real culture: you get to see the office environment – which is always fun – observe how they work and ask honest questions to gauge if the environment fits your working style.

In my case, hearing about Raisin's collaborative energy up close and learning how several former interns grew into long-term roles made it clear right away that this is a company that encourages growth and empowers interns to step in and take real ownership of impactful projects. 

In October, I will be honored to participate in the Berlin Global Dialogue as one of the student representatives of "Young Voices," alongside 35 MBA students from business schools around the world. This is a high-profile international forum founded by ESMT, held annually at ESMT and attracting numerous political and business leaders. In 2026 this includes the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Timotheus Höttges, the CEO of Deutsche Telekom, and Benedetta Berti, Secretary-General of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, as well as other global leaders.

International relations and business development are deeply intertwined and are an area I have always closely followed. Being able to be present at such a dialogue, listening to and participating in these high-level discussions, will be a rare learning opportunity for me.

Are you involved in any clubs or social activities at ESMT? 

I currently serve as the co-chair of ESMT Women in Leadership. This autumn, we are planning a series of events encompassing guest speaker sessions, health and fitness activities, and networking events, aiming to present women's leadership in diverse ways to the entire school community.

Do you have any tips for future ESMT students, particularly those thinking about moving here from China?

Having a clear understanding of what I want most out of the MBA experience was very helpful for me. For many of us that could be career advancement, an industry pivot, or relocating long-term. Your target industry or company might change as you learn more and have conversations, but having an overarching goal really kept me grounded, especially during stressful periods.

Second, keep an open mind! Moving to a new culture can feel overwhelming at first, but the ESMT community is incredibly supportive, so don't hesitate to reach out. No question is too small, and you might just be surprised by what you learn! Lastly, try to learn basic conversational German before arriving; even a little goes a long way in daily life and builds your confidence when navigating the city. 

You are now a part of the EMST community. Have you discovered your favorite place on campus? What is a spot a visitor shouldn’t miss?

"We’ve shared countless hours in that room – from intense lectures and discussions to spontaneous dance breaks and birthday celebrations, so it holds a very special place in my heart."

The ESMT building is so special. I love walking in every day and feeling the history within these walls. But my favorite spot on campus has to be Auditorium 2. That’s where our cohort took all our core classes, and it holds so many memories.

I still vividly remember when we started the program: it was the coldest Berlin winter in 16 years, and it would already be pitch black outside by 3 PM. Yet inside the classroom, it was always so warm, bright, and cozy. We’ve shared countless hours in that room – from intense lectures and discussions to spontaneous dance breaks and birthday celebrations, so it holds a very special place in my heart.

As for visitors, they definitely shouldn't miss the ESMT garden. Having that green outdoor space right in the heart of Museum Island is such a privilege, and it's always fun discovering all the 'hidden' sculptures scattered throughout the grounds. 

"We are so lucky to have such a collaborative, generous, diverse, and fun cohort that has truly turned into family."

This is a really hard one to answer! As many of my classmates have shared, we are so lucky to have such a collaborative, generous, diverse, and fun cohort that has truly turned into family.

But if I have to choose just one, the ESMT Olympics was a really special memory for me. We had just returned from the MBA tournament (MBAT) in Paris and team spirit was running so high. During the award ceremony, our cohort somehow swept the entire podium for the egg race, and the whole class just rushed over to our classmates, celebrating and chanting 'MBA! MBA!' together. It was such a fun, unifying moment, and I hope that kind of energy follows all of us well beyond graduation.

Thank you, Ting!

If you would like to see more insights from Ting at ESMT Berlin, Raisin, and beyond, you can follow her on LinkedIn.