Learning on the job: Master's internships at ESMT founding companies

ESMT is the business school founded by business. This is more than buzz: ESMT Berlin was founded in 2002 by 25 leading global companies and institutions.

Nearly 25 years later, ESMT continues to strengthen our bonds with these founding organizations. Company representatives are regular visitors to the ESMT campus for Executive Education courses, company talks, our annual Career Fair, and more. Some of our alumni take positions with these companies after graduation. And our master's students often join these companies for the internship module of their degree programs. 

What are ESMT master's internships?

ESMT has three master's programs: the Master of Global Management (MGM), the Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MIE), and the Master of Analytics and AI (MAAI). For most of the students in these master's programs, an internship is a compulsory part of the summer timeline, and the first major 'real life' test of all they have learned in the program so far.

Now, not every student does an internship. In fact, those in the MIE can choose to take the Summer Entrepreneurship Program instead, and explore how to launch their own business idea. Yet, it is safe to say, for the majority of ESMT master's students, an internship is key part of the learning process.

So, what do these internships look like in practice? To get the answer, we went straight to the source: seven of our many Class of 2027 master's students working as interns with ESMT founding companies: 

Allianz SE & Allianz Consulting: 

• Morade Adeniji (Master in Global Management; Project Management Excellence Intern at Allianz SE)
• Christian Sandanger (Master in Global Management; Consulting Intern at Allianz Consulting)

Bosch

• Victoria Landazuri (Master in Analytics and AI; Controlling/Financial Analyst at Bosch, and formerly a Bosch working student)

Deutsche Post AG (DHL)

• Yinghan Chen (Master in Global Management; Corporate Development Intern at Deutsche Post/DHL)

Deutsche Telekom

• Alexandra Romanova (Master in Analytics and AI; Leadership Excellence Intern at Deutsche Telekom)

Mercedes-Benz AG & Mercedes-Benz Group AG

• Khanh Nam Lai (Master in Analytics and AI; Business Analyst Product Management Intern at Mercedes-Benz AG)
• Johanna Schulze Thier (Master in Global Management; CEO and Corporate Office Intern at Mercedes-Benz Group AG)

Read on to discover how their degree programs and ESMT's Career Development Center prepared them for this challenge, what they are learning on the job, and what their insights are for other master's students hoping to secure internship positions in the future.

How it feels to be working at one of ESMT's founding companies

First things first: what does it feel like to be working at the heart of some of the world's biggest brands? Our master's students all agree that it is both a privilege and an incredible learning opportunity. 

The word curiosity came up again and again. ESMT students arrive at their internships with confidence, but to truly see results they must also be curious. They highlight the value of openness and how it exposes you to interesting connections, wider networks, and new ways of thinking.   

What our students say

Alexandra: "It's a privilege to be here at Deutsche Telekom. I'll be honest here: a lot of people like to say everything's amazing and that they arrived already knowing it all. I'd rather be real. My background is primarily in business and finance, so HR and leadership development is a new branch for me – I came in genuinely curious to learn it, and to see where the analytics and AI knowledge I've gained at ESMT could fit in.

That's part of why I'm so grateful to DT. They brought me straight into the projects they're working on around leadership development and T-Style, Deutsche Telekom's own leadership culture and the shared principles they expect from their leaders. I've gotten to contribute to real work: shaping program content, helping organize team offsites, seeing how much thought goes into something that looks effortless from the outside.

My colleagues at DT have been genuinely supportive, which makes the learning curve a pleasure rather than a pressure."

- Alexandra Romanova, MAAI. Leadership Excellence Intern, Deutsche Telekom

Johanna: "Working right at the heart of one of the most iconic brands in the world feels like a real privilege and I definitely had a “pinch me” moment on my first day in the HQ.  

In the CEO and Corporate Office, I work alongside impressive people every day, and I have also had the chance to meet interesting people in person during events. Expanding my knowledge and network was one of my main goals when I started looking for an internship, and it is great to have found a place that offers both."

- Johanna Schulze Their, MGM. CEO and Corporate Office Intern, Mercedes-Benz Group AG

Discovering master's internship opportunities

But how do our master's students land these internships in the first place? At ESMT, all students are ultimately responsible for securing their own internships. Yet, they are not alone in the search. ESMT's connections to the wider corporate network can help them find opportunities to apply. And, in the case of our founding companies, ESMT's Career Development Center (CDC) has even been able to negotiate select, exclusive internship application opportunities for our students.

This is not to discount the hard work our students put in to secure their positions. The master's students we interviewed told us that ESMT creates the connections, but that securing a position also involves having the dedication to prepare properly and perform well.

What our students say

Yinghan: "Compared to applications through websites or LinkedIn, the ESMT exclusive internships are much more efficient. In most cases, there is only one interview directly with the hiring manager, which allows you to get to know the team quickly without going through multiple HR rounds. Also, since these opportunities are exclusive to ESMT students, the number of applicants is lower.  

In addition, companies are familiar with ESMT and value what we learn during the program. I also received support from previous students who interned at DHL, and from career advisors who understand the company culture well. Overall, it is much easier to find support and build connections."

- Yinghan Chen, Corporate Development Intern, Deutsche Post/DHL

Morade: "It has been exciting and humbling. Being part of an internship opportunity connected to one of ESMT's renowned founding companies highlights the strength of the school's network and industry relationships.  

Allianz is a large organization with an incredible range of global activities, and being part of this complex setting has definitely expanded my mindset. In this short time, I've learned a great deal about organizational effectiveness from my experienced colleagues, contributed to project operations in the Global People and Culture Team, and gained strategic insights that complement what I'm learning at ESMT.  

My experience truly reinforces the value of being part of the ESMT ecosystem."

- Morade Adeniji, Project Management Excellence Intern, Allianz SE

Christian: "It took some work and a bit of luck. I was first introduced to Allianz through a seminar at ESMT one late weekday evening in autumn 2025. Many of us students had just finished a long day with classes and studying and tuned in to this seminar to learn more about the company. A friendly Allianz representative named Nasir gave a great first impression. Fast-forward a few months and I was applying for internships and landed an interview at Allianz Consulting."

- Christian Sandanger, Consulting Intern, Allianz Consulting

During the internship process, the CDC helps students gain practical career knowledge, from their internship interviews to the soft skills they will need on the job. Each master's student is assigned a career advisor, who can help them run mock interviews, give personal branding tips, and build the professional foundation that encourages career success.

For the master's students we interviewed, this support foundation worked perfectly, giving them the keys they needed to both lock down internship opportunities, and unlock ongoing success once they arrived.

What our students say 

Yinghan: "The Career Development Center has been especially valuable for me. I made extensive use of their resources, sometimes speaking with advisors every week (or even every day during application periods). Gaining a second opinion always leads me to realize what I really want, what really fits me, and where my comparative advantage lies. In general, my career advisor Andreza and other advisors, Marcel, Sophie, Liza, Jack and Gabor, all gave me huge support."

- Yinghan Chen, Corporate Development Intern, Deutsche Post/DHL

Morade:  "The opportunity came through the ESMT Career Development Center's strong relationship with its corporate partners. The recruitment process required detailed preparation with my career advisor, Andreza, and a clear understanding of how my previous experiences could add value.

I focused on communicating my transferable skills, willingness to learn, and ability to work effectively in diverse environments. I felt graced to receive the offer because Allianz offers an excellent and unique environment for professional growth with a great workplace culture."

- Morade Adeniji, Project Management Excellence Intern, Allianz SE

Another common thread in our internship blog series was the pleasure of leveraging classroom teachings in a real-life setting. 

Our master's degree programs are designed to be applied, with practical knowledge that can be useful in many varied fields. And there is no stronger reminder of this than being in front of real data, where decisions have real consequences. Happily (yet not surprisingly!), our students are up for the challenge and are already seeing real results. 

What our students say

Nam "Actually, what I learned in the MAAI curriculum is as close as it gets at what I do in my internship. All the data end-to-end treatment processes, methods, caveats – that is what I use daily at Mercedes-Benz.

The difference is that now the data is real and messy, the impact and accountability is measurable. But I would say I would not have made it if it was not for ESMT’s super well-made curriculum, with its wide coverage of the field and appropriate deep dives into industry norms.  

I cannot thank ESMT enough for equipping me with more than enough skills and self-belief to not only get in the door, but to begin contributing and learning even more at such a prestigious German company."

- Khanh Nam Lai, Business Analyst Product Management Intern, Mercedes-Benz AG

Christian: "First thing I’d like to point out here is the experience of moving to Germany on your own, and the process of building a network of relations and routines in a new environment – while trying your best to make the most of it. This experience will teach you the most, in my opinion, about responsibility and the guts to jump on opportunities.

Secondly, I would like to highlight conversations and reflections with fellow students, as they have absolutely helped me navigate the corporate world. Sharing experiences from similar roles and discussing which job markets to aim for, among other things.

Thirdly, I can credit Professor Francis de Véricourt and Professor Martin Schweinsberg for their contagious enthusiasm for problem-solving theories and corporate-life perspectives. Professor de Véricourt’s decision science framework is something I still use when breaking down complex problems at work. It sticks with you."

- Christian Sandanger, Consulting Intern, Allianz Consulting

Alexandra: "The most useful thing the program gave me isn't a single tool, but a way of structuring problems – breaking something ambiguous into parts you can actually analyze. The operations and analytics courses trained that muscle, and I use it constantly.  

The AI side stuck with me too, especially how universal it is – once you think that way, you spot places to apply it everywhere, including leadership development, where it can make processes simpler and more optimal."

- Alexandra Romanova, Leadership Excellence Intern, Deutsche Telekom

A master's degree at ESMT is designed for young professionals preparing for major career trajectory. The internship is an integral part of this process. It not only offers practical exposure, but it gives our students a chance to grow their networks and meet the people who can help open future career doors. 

The students we interviewed are absolutely making the most of this, using their time off campus to expand their knowledge, try new things, and make lasting connections.

What our students say 

Johanna: "What makes this role so special is the proximity to real decision-making. Moreover, the automotive industry is in the midst of a major transformation that is bringing new opportunities on many fronts. I highly believe that gaining insight into how priorities are set and decisions are made in such a demanding environment is one of the most formative experiences I could get at this stage of my career."

- Johanna Schulze Their, Corporate Office Intern, Mercedes-Benz Group AG

Victoria: "As a working student, I was more on the reporting and finance side of things. For the internship I stayed in the same team but shifted toward digitalization, building tools, automating processes, developing an AI agent.  

So, the context was familiar, but the work itself was a real step change. It was the right kind of challenge: unfamiliar enough to learn something new but grounded enough to actually deliver results."

- Victoria Landazuri, Controlling/Financial Analyst, Bosch

So, having learned firsthand what it is like to work for an ESMT founding company, what wisdom do our interviewees have for future master's students?

Our students were in agreement that being organized can help. They advised starting the internship search early, even earlier than you might think you need to. They also advised expanding your résumé to include soft skills and at least basic German. While this isn't a prerequisite for landing a job in Berlin, it can definitely help prove your adaptability and commitment. 

And, above all, they said it is important to trust yourself, trust what you have learned, and trust that you are the right fit for the role. They told our future students to be confident and apply to opportunities that might seem out of reach – because that is how you end up with a dream internship. 

What our students say

Victoria: "Start [looking for internships] earlier than you think you need to. And – this is specific to Germany, but learn at least basic German. In Berlin you can get by without it in daily life and in many international teams it's not strictly required. But it is good to know a little and the team appreciates your willingness to learn.  

Finally, I would say: be open to learning. In the interviews show what you know, but it is always important to show how willing you are to learn."

- Victoria Landazuri, Controlling/Financial Analyst, Bosch

Yinghan: "For students who are still exploring their path like me: stay open to everything. Don’t reject yourself before even trying.

Start early. This gives you more buffer time to secure a position but also helps you understand what you actually like and where you fit best.

Networking. Talk to alumni, professors, and professionals you are interested in. This gives you firsthand knowledge and insights into the business world that you can’t easily get from AI.

Don’t underestimate soft skills. Even if you lack technical knowledge at the beginning, skills like communication, asking the right questions, time management, and stakeholder management are what help you thrive in junior roles."

- Yinghan Chen, Corporate Development Intern, Deutsche Post/DHL

 Wondering where a master's degree at EMST can take you? For any prospective master's students thinking about next year's internship round, the final words of encouragement go to Nam, who keeps it straightforward yet heartfelt: 

Our thanks go to our founding companies, to the ESMT Career Development Center, and to master's students Morade Adeniji, Yinghan Chen, Khanh Nam Lai, Victoria Landazuri, Alexandra Romanova, Christian Sandanger, and Johanna Schulze Thier for generously sharing their insights for this piece.