Communication & connection: the path to an MGM internship with DHL

Journalism and communications skills might seem like they sit on the softer side of business school teachings, but for Master in Global Management student Yinghan Chen (Class of 2027), they are an essential part of building a strong international business career.

Leveraging the soft skills that open doors: Yinghan’s story

In this blog, Yinghan shares how these skills helped her secure an exclusive internship with DHL, one of ESMT’s founding companies. She also explains how the support of the ESMT Career Development Center helped her face the internship interview process with confidence. 

Additionally, Yinghan shares how her ESMT highlights go beyond the classroom: from the TEDxESMT Berlin experience that saw her shadow former Amazon Germany CEO Ralf Kleber, to the diverse, international network that welcomed her to the ESMT family before she had even applied.

Hi Yinghan, please introduce yourself

Hi! I’m Yinghan. I’m 23 years old and I’m from China. Currently I’m finishing my first year of the Master in Global Management (MGM) program at ESMT Berlin and doing my internship at DHL. If everything goes smoothly, I will go on exchange next year to ISB in India.

In my free time, I love watching movies, travelling, cooking, and I especially love eating spicy food!

Your bachelor is in journalism and communication, a less 'traditional' path to the MSc. What made you decide to go to business school?

During my first year of my bachelor’s, I realized that journalism is actually less about what you learn in class, and more about expanding your knowledge across different fields and refining your storytelling skills. To complement my background in a more qualitative discipline, I started studying Economics and developing my quantitative thinking.

After gaining systematic training in macroeconomics and game theory, I developed a completely new perspective on understanding the world. I became particularly interested in the underlying mechanisms that explain how everything is connected. Therefore, I decided to pursue a business degree and applied to the MGM program, which allows me to explore different industries and topics in depth. 

I’m very grateful to have studied at Peking University, where I met classmates and professors who showed me that it is never too late to change direction and pursue your interests. Today, I really enjoy having multiple perspectives within myself, approaching problems not only from a business point of view, but also asking “why” and “how” questions from my journalism intuition.

Why did you pick the Master in Global Management (MGM) program at ESMT?

I first learned about ESMT at an offline master fair at the beginning of my final year of bachelor studies. At that time, I had no clear idea which school or program I should choose. The MGM program immediately caught my attention, as most public universities in Germany require a related bachelor’s degree, while private business schools gave me the opportunity to change direction and explore new interests. 

After completing five internships during my bachelor’s, I realized that for most fields, practical experience is extremely important. Therefore, a career-oriented business program taught in English and open to diverse backgrounds was exactly what I was looking for. So, I focused on this program directly and applied as soon as the applications opened. I also received my offer quickly, and after securing the spot, I did not apply anywhere else. ESMT’s MGM became the only program I applied to for my master’s.

Did you move to Berlin for the ESMT MGM program?

“Everyone gave me full support in studying in Germany and choosing ESMT. It really made me feel like a part of a family.”

Yes, but not entirely. I had already traveled to Germany a few times before my studies, and Berlin left me with a very positive impression due to its inclusiveness and diversity. Coming from Beijing, I really enjoy the life of a big city. And in Berlin, with the campus location and well-connected public transportation, everything is even within reach in about 30 minutes! Berlin is also a great starting point for people who are still adapting to the German culture and language.

What also motivated me to come to Berlin is that even before applying, I was invited by Shelly Yu (ESMT’s China Office Marketing Manager) to an alumni gathering in Beijing with Professor Olaf Plötner. That experience gave me a real insight into campus life and potential career paths. Everyone gave me full support in studying in Germany and choosing ESMT. It really made me feel like a part of a family.

How about your cohort – what is it like to have so many international classmates?

“ESMT truly creates an environment where people from all backgrounds feel welcome and included”

I really enjoy being in such an international environment. Being constantly exposed to different cultures pushes me to both expand my perspective outward and better understand myself from within.

With around 80% of students coming from outside Germany, both in class and outside the classroom, you constantly hear diverse viewpoints and experiences. This is exactly what makes studying global management so unique. ESMT truly creates an environment where people from all backgrounds feel welcome and included.

You are currently completing your MGM internship as a Corporate Development Intern at DHL. How did you secure this opportunity?

I saw the opportunity shared in our career WhatsApp group, and then tailored my CV and cover letter using the guidance provided on CareerOS. I applied at the end of January and received feedback in early February, followed by an interview in mid-February. During that time, I also did a mock interview with my career advisor Andreza, which helped me a lot. The whole process went quite smoothly, and I accepted the offer by the end of February.

However, the internship search process was quite stressful, as I had to balance coursework, group projects, and recruiting at the same time. A big thanks to the Career Development Center! All the career cafés and career consulting meetings were super helpful for reducing my stress and guiding me to where I am now.

You are one of the students who managed to get an exclusive ESMT internship with one of our founding companies. What is that like?

“I also received support from previous students who interned at DHL, and from career advisors who understand the company culture well.”

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.

Do you have any tips for students who will apply for internships in the future?

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.

Are you able to leverage any MGM learnings in your internship? Do any skills seminars or professors particularly stand out?

Overall, I would say every course and seminar has been helpful. Together, they gave me a clearer picture of the German business environment. Presentations have strengthened my storytelling skills, and constantly adapting to new topics has improved my ability to learn quickly.

In my current role, communication and stakeholder management are the most important skills I rely on, and these are exactly the skills I’ve been continuously trained in at ESMT.

Beyond the classroom, your extracurricular activities include being a Speaker Assistant at TEDXESMT Berlin. Can you tell us about that experience?

“I had the chance to support Ralf Kleber, the former CEO of Amazon Germany, for a whole day. His calmness and approachability left a deep impression on me”

This was a truly eye-opening experience. Even though I was busy applying for internships and managing my studies, I immediately applied when I saw the opportunity to work as a speaker assistant at TEDxESMT Berlin.

I had the chance to support Ralf Kleber, the former CEO of Amazon Germany, for a whole day. His calmness and approachability left a deep impression on me. Besides, the team behind the whole event also surprised me. It was hard to imagine how a relatively small team managed to organize such a large event. 

What are your other top memories from the MGM so far?

“From the German culture onboarding sessions to intentionally diverse study groups and career support, ESMT actively helps international students build careers in Germany.”

With such an international cohort, ESMT really takes care of students from abroad. I truly feel part of a community. From the German culture onboarding sessions to intentionally diverse study groups and career support, ESMT actively helps international students build careers in Germany.

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.

Last but not least, the alumni network is amazing. Through coffee chats, I gained many valuable insights and support from alumni.

Thank you for having me! I’m glad to have this opportunity and reflect on my journey at ESMT!

Thank you, Yinghan!

If you have been inspired by Yinghan’s story, or if you would like to hear more about her time at DHL and ESMT, you can connect with her on LinkedIn