Exchanging ideas across countries and time zones in the Global Online MBA

Global Online MBA (GOMBA) student Joan Mwaniki lives in South Africa. Yet she already works at the intersection of two German companies in her role as a Senior SAP Integration Consultant at BMW IT Hub. Perhaps then, it is not so surprising that she was drawn to an MBA in Germany at ESMT Berlin. 

In this blog Joan, Class of 2027, explains what drew her to ESMT and to the GOMBA, and what it is like to work full-time while completing an MBA on another continent. She also dives into how this format allows her to grow at work in real time and outlines how she is forming strong bonds with her cohort – despite often having to meet each other across countries and time zones. 

And Joan also shares her memories of Berlin Experience Week, the GOMBA module that saw her come to campus in Berlin to visit ESMT in person. Joan explains what being in Berlin taught her about excellence, and how coming to campus gave her "a real sense of belonging" – cementing her as a true part of ESMT. 

Hi Joan, could you please introduce yourself? 

I am Joan Mwaniki, born in Kenya and raised in South Africa. I love traveling, exploring new places, and meeting people from different backgrounds. 

 Professionally, I am a Senior SAP Integration Consultant at BMW IT Hub South Africa, with seven years of experience in SAP technology. I am currently completing the Global Online MBA at ESMT Berlin because I want to grow from technical delivery into a leadership role that connects technology with strategy and business value. 

You are based in South Africa: what drew you to an online MBA at a school in Berlin, Germany? 

I wanted a program that would allow me to continue working full time and apply what I learn immediately. ESMT's focus on technology, innovation and leadership fits the direction I want my career to take. There was also a natural connection: BMW and SAP are German companies, and my career sits at the intersection of the two, so a German business education felt fitting. I also wanted to understand business beyond the technical environment and markets I already knew. 

What is it like to learn online? Are you able to network and connect with your cohort remotely? 

Online learning offers flexibility, but connection requires initiative. Live sessions, group work, and informal conversations have helped me build real relationships with my cohort. You have to contribute, reach out, and make time for conversations beyond the coursework; it does not happen automatically. Once you do, distance becomes much less important. I now have classmates I can exchange ideas with across countries and time zones. 

My routine is not a perfectly organized study calendar. Most of my focused MBA work happens over the weekend, when I work through the readings, connect the ideas, and complete assignments. During the week, I use smaller pockets of time. I listen to lecture content during my commute, while relaxing at home, or before bed, and browse the material between work commitments. By the weekend, I have usually been thinking about the topic for several days. It is informal, but it works around a demanding full-time role. 

Does the part-time, modular nature of the program allow you to apply what you are learning at work in real time? How is it changing your approach? 

"I am also learning to create space for discovery before locking in an architecture. Once the direction is clear, I can move confidently into delivery without treating implementation as the whole transformation." 

Yes. I often learn something in a module and apply it at work, days later. The MBA has been eye-opening because it has forced me to confront some of my own biases about technical work. 

In SAP integration, my instinct has always been to focus on whether a solution is well designed, technically sound, and delivered reliably. I used to assume that if those things were right, the value would speak for itself. I now think more carefully about why the business needs the solution, what value it creates and what happens after go-live. 

I am also learning to create space for discovery before locking in an architecture. Once the direction is clear, I can move confidently into delivery without treating implementation as the whole transformation. 

What lectures have stood out the most so far? Have any topics made a particularly strong impression? 

I really enjoyed Global Virtual Teams and Crafting Better Decisions. I already work with colleagues across countries, so Global Virtual Teams felt immediately relevant. It helped me understand how culture and communication styles affect teamwork, and reminded me to stay open, learn from others, and include different perspectives. 

Crafting Better Decisions challenged my ego a little. The idea that luck plays a role in success made me question how much credit we give ourselves when things go well. Learning how to create more opportunities for luck and recognize bias in my own thinking changed how I view both success and decision-making. 

On LinkedIn, you wrote about moving into leadership while building on your technical background. Is the MBA helping you achieve this goal? 

"My aim is not to leave technology, but to lead it with a fuller understanding of the business it serves." 

I studied Computer Science and have worked in SAP technology for seven years. The transition I am making is from technical specialist towards a broader leadership role. I want to keep my technical depth while becoming stronger in strategy, commercial thinking, and organizational leadership. 

The MBA is helping me understand the business context around technical decisions and explain their value in terms that other leaders can act on. My aim is not to leave technology, but to lead it with a fuller understanding of the business it serves. 

You recently came to campus for the Berlin Experience Week. What was it like to meet members of your cohort (and the ESMT community) in person? 

"Studying from South Africa can sometimes make the school feel far away, so sitting in the same classroom gave me a real sense of belonging. I returned home feeling part of ESMT rather than simply enrolled there." 

Meeting my cohort in person was one of the most meaningful parts of the week. Some are early in their careers, some are aiming for executive roles, and others are navigating new industries or countries. Hearing their stories made me appreciate the strength of the group around me. 

Studying from South Africa can sometimes make the school feel far away, so sitting in the same classroom gave me a real sense of belonging. I returned home feeling part of ESMT rather than simply enrolled there.

"Being on campus made the program feel tangible. Berlin also became part of the learning because its history is visible in its streets and public art." 

Being on campus made the program feel tangible. Berlin also became part of the learning because its history is visible in its streets and public art. One of my favorite experiences was cycling through the city and around Museum Island. The Empty Library memorial at Bebelplatz, with its underground shelves commemorating the 1933 Nazi book burning, stayed with me. I was moved by Berlin's willingness to place difficult history in public view. In a world where people and institutions often avoid admitting wrongdoing, that honesty felt powerful. 

What was your biggest takeaway from Berlin Experience Week? Is there anything you have brought back with you to leverage at work (or elsewhere)? 

My biggest takeaway was that excellence is not a fixed standard. What stood out to me about German excellence was the willingness to confront shortcomings, learn from them, and keep improving. 

I have brought that mindset back to work. Technical teams need high standards, but they also need room to question established approaches, try new ideas, and sometimes fail. If people are afraid to challenge decisions or make mistakes, innovation slows and organizations become stagnant. I want to help create an environment where people can experiment and learn while still taking responsibility for the outcome. 

Do you have any advice for students thinking about joining the Global Online MBA - especially those who don't live in Germany or Europe? 

"The program has introduced me to European perspectives and broadened how I understand business and the global economy." 

Do not let the distance put you off. For me, it has been worth it. Before the MBA, much of my understanding of business came from African markets, with some exposure to the American market. The program has introduced me to European perspectives and broadened how I understand business and the global economy. 

The class is incredibly diverse, with people joining from different countries, industries, and time zones. You learn from people whose experiences you might never otherwise encounter. My advice is to participate and get to know them. If you can visit Berlin, take the opportunity, but you do not have to live in Germany or Europe to feel part of the program. 

What has been your favorite ESMT memory so far? What advice would you give your pre-MBA self? 

My favorite memories are the dinners and city tours with my cohort. Those informal moments gave us time to laugh, share our lives, and get to know one another beyond work and assignments. 

I would tell my pre-MBA self to engage from the beginning. Speak up, ask questions, and let people know you. The program becomes much more meaningful when you take part in the community instead of treating it only as coursework. 

Thank you, Joan! 

Joan Mwaniki is a Senior SAP Integration Consultant at BMW IT Hub South Africa. If you would like to see more of her insights about growing into leadership through the Global Online MBA, you can follow her on LinkedIn.