Alumni Xperiences

I chose the study International Marketing & Management at the International Business School in Groningen because of its international aspect. The year abroad in combination with marketing as well as an entire four-year programme in English made IBS the right choice for me.

During my studies I did my study abroad in New Zealand and my placement abroad at Océ in South Africa. This was a wonderful experience that helped me gain insight into different cultures as well as business etiquette around the world.

Shortly after I graduated I started working for Boehringer Ingelheim B.V., a family-owned business in pharmaceutical products. The fact that it’s a family-owned business is very unique in this industry and is defining for the organisational culture.  As a Product Manager (also referred to as Brand Manager), I work at the Marketing department for Prescription Medicines. I am responsible for ensuring we implement the best possible marketing strategy and positioning strategy for the products Sifrol and Flibanserine. Basically this entails writing a marketing plan and determining which strategic and operational activities can contribute to the objectives within the available budget both on a national as well as international level. As a Product Manager, you are the link between the sales department, the financial department and the medical department.

For three years in a row now, Boehringer Ingelheim B.V. has been awarded as being one of the best companies world wide by the Corporate Research Foundation. Within the Netherlands Boehringer Ingelheim B.V. has been responsible for several block busters of which the most well known are Spiriva and Sifrol. To the general public well-known products from the Consumer Health Care department are Bisolvon and Deoleen.
Boehringer Ingelheim B.V accounts for 270 employees in the Netherlands. World wide Boehringer Ingelheim B.V has almost 40,000 employees. In the Netherlands the organisation accounts for a turnover of approximately 130 million euro’s. World wide this is about 11 billion euro’s.

The International Business School (IBS) has helped me develop the competencies necessary for me to do the work I do today. I travel all over the world to visit conventions and to ensure that our products are marketed as desired. I look back at my years at IBS with fond memories and can truly say that IBS does a great job at preparing individuals for the global workplace!
 

International Business School alumnus Paolo Raposo graduated ten years ago. In May 2008 he came back to Groningen to visit the IBS Reunion. He looks back at his study time at Hanze UAS.

Why did you decide to study at IBS in Groningen?
‘I really liked the international component of the programme. At the time the Master of Science in International Business had a partnership with the Sheffield Hallam Business School and on top of that the mix of nationalities was also very appealing to me. I also found that the balance between quality and price was very good. All in all, it was a good value for money option.’

How did you experience your time at Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen?
‘It was a very positive experience. The campus was great. And during the reunion I saw that it is even better now! The teachers were good, the colleagues were excellent. All in all the year flew by.’

What was the best moment of your study here?
‘I can go for the cliché answer and say that it was the graduation ceremony! However the honest answer is that throughout the year all moments were great. From the initial 'get to know each other' event, to the hard work of the group assignments, to the relaxed moments we had outside school activities. All those moments were great.’

What are you doing right now?
‘I'm currently the lubricants pricing manager for Europe working for BP (British Petrol, ed.). I am married, have one child and live close to Lisbon, Portugal.’

Has your education at IBS played a crucial role in your current career?
‘The study came at a crucial time of my life. I was already working for a multinational company at that time. Just after I graduated as a Master of Science in International Business, I changed countries and jobs. I worked in The Netherlands for four years. Having this degree definitely helped me open doors, not just in the job hunting phase but also internally in BP.’

What is the most important thing you learned at IBS?
‘Intercultural is not just a fancy term of text books. I had great moments with my fellow students. We had more than ten different nationalities in our group! I learned a lot from them and still keep friendships going with some of them after all these years.’

What was your favourite spot at Hanze UAS or in Groningen?
‘The local supermarket in the neighbourhood I was living, because they had a kind of sweet yoghurt, boerenvla, which was delicious. I could not find it anywhere else. I still miss it today!’