We interviewed two participants who took part in the International Business Trip to Frankfurt. During the trip, students from EADA’s International Masters in the area of finance (Masters in Finance, Accounting & Financial Management and Finanzas – Bilingüe) spent several days together exploring the city and visiting key institutions and companies. Here, we learn about the highlights and professional implications of the trip according to International Master in Finance students Jason Reddig (Germany) and Kadir Can Bal (Turkey).
What was the highlight of the trip for you?
Jason: For me, the highlight of the Frankfurt trip was the company visit to BearingPoint Consulting. It was a great opportunity to find out more about the company, its areas of expertise and its current projects. I enjoyed connecting with the EADA alumna there and hearing about her experience at the firm and life post-EADA. I was also able to broaden my professional network by connecting with some of the managers, with whom I explored job opportunities at BearingPoint.
Kadir: The best part was the people – the people from the places that we visited as well as my classmates from EADA. Firstly, in all of the companies and organisations that we visited, the people were really helpful and excited to share their experience and daily practices. They approached each presentation with an open mind and were very responsive to our questions. Secondly, I had the opportunity to get to know my classmates and meet new peers from the other programmes in Finance, which was a valuable experience.
How did the trip contribute to your future professional planning?
Jason: At the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, some of the interns elaborated on their experience and I was impressed with their level of proficiency and knowledge. To me, this served as a reminder that competition in the job market shouldn’t be underestimated and further motivated me to invest as much time as possible in preparing for upcoming job interviews.
Kadir: The trip gave me an overview of a European financial centre. The visit to E&Y was especially interesting for me. Seeing the consulting firm environment and hearing first-hand stories from the managers at E&Y has changed my views about consulting. It also created opportunities to network that may be valuable for my future career.
Would you recommend the International Business Trip to future students?
Jason: I would definitely recommend the trip. I found it very interesting to be able to visit the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, as well as the European Central Bank. I would particularly recommend the trip to students that haven’t been to Germany before. Not only is Frankfurt Germany’s financial hub, but it is also a very beautiful city. Above all, I enjoyed being able to spend time with peers outside of the classroom.
Kadir: Yes! The trip is a valuable opportunity for students to meet senior executives from diverse companies who can respond personally to their questions – from the work environment to everyday tasks in the sector.