Mastering the Art of the Triple Jump with HHL’s MBA

This article was originally published by Kimberley Vrij via mbagradschools.com on February 12, 2024. 

The concept of the triple jump entails an ambitious shift across industry, role, and geographic location. It represents a total transformation of one’s professional identity and life vision. For MBA graduates like Denise, an HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management alum, the triple jump was a voyage of self-discovery and reinvention as she reveals in the following interview.

The Triple Jump: A New Era of Career Mobility

The concept of the triple jump entails an ambitious shift across industry, role, and geographic location. It represents a total transformation of one’s professional identity and life vision. For MBA graduates like Denise, an HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management alum, the triple jump was a voyage of self-discovery and reinvention.

Now a successful consultant, Denise reflects on her career path: “I worked in the insurance industry for several years already. And I wanted to experience living abroad to find where I wanted to stay, live, and work.”

Deviating from a set career path to explore uncharted territories is a common desire. This aspiration, however, comes with its own set of challenges, the most prominent being navigating uncertainty. The triple jump requires the courage to change and planning to make a transition successful.

For many professionals, pivoting to business necessitates gaining new skills and connections to their desired industry. “I saw the gap between my wishes and the experience that I had,” Denise says.

Thus, enrolling in an MBA program is a common path to triple jump into a dream career.  Denise found HHL Leipzig to be the perfect partner for her triple jump.

The MBA programs at HHL Leipzig recognize that today’s business leaders must excel as managers, innovators, and pioneers. They should be skilled in identifying opportunities, driving transformative change, and creating significant value in various contexts. The MBA degree equips students with the necessary tools to navigate new industries, roles, and cultures.

HHL offers a vibrant startup ecosystem and robust alumni services. Collectively, these elements create an environment conducive to changing industries.

The MBA Experience: From Classroom to Career

Denise’s industry leap from insurance to consulting highlights the versatility of the skills developed during the MBA. Central to HHL Leipzig’s MBA program is its emphasis on developing an entrepreneurial spirit and a thriving startup ecosystem.

It’s not only the spirit itself. There are various types of support out there to help me, such as the Spinlab, the Digital Space for startup-related topics, and alumni from different industries and expertise. Such a supportive environment fosters learning and the development of a robust professional network. The school has a strong network of peers, industry leaders, and potential investors. Its MBA program provides numerous opportunities for students to connect and engage with various stakeholders through networking events, guest lectures, conferences, and meetups.

Changing roles in the triple jump is about leveraging one’s past experiences and skills in a new context. This often requires a significant upgrade of thinking patterns. Reflecting on this, Denise found multiple courses, particularly those centered around strategy and problem management, benefited her greatly. These courses developed her skills in identifying, structuring, and analyzing problems. For instance, she learned techniques to effectively organize her thoughts and convey her ideas or solutions to an audience.

HHL Leipzig’s MBA program provides experiences like internships, live projects, and industry-led workshops.  In these situations, students apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios. The experience builds confidence for navigating complex business situations. Graduates are well-equipped both intellectually and practically.
However, there’s more required to make a triple jump, as moving to another country also comes with challenges.

The HHL Experience: Beyond Academics

The third dimension of the triple jump is geographic relocation, often the most visible and personally challenging aspect. Moving to a new place, integrating into a new culture, and often learning to a new language are all challenging. The reward is a fresh perspective on both personal and professional life.

For Denise, relocating to Germany from Hong Kong was a decision made with heart and mind. Denise had already visited the country and she knew this would fit her before making the move. However, the city of Leipzig and HHL’s location in it was a pleasant surprise.

“The living costs in Leipzig are quite manageable compared to other German cities,” She says. “And HHL’s campus is well-connected to public transport. So I used to visit the campus every day when I was doing the thesis.”

To make the transition to life in Germany even easier for internationals, HHL Leipzig also has German language courses students can take for credit.

Are You Looking To Make the Triple Jump?