Rebekka Wiele, Class 2017

Hi Rebekka! You graduated from Amsterdam School of International Business (AMSIB) with a Bachelor’s degree in International Business and graduated in the year of 2017, what have you been up to since your graduation?

After my studies in Amsterdam, I moved back to Germany in 2017 to obtain my master degree in Economics from the South Westphalia University of Applied Science. During that time, I stayed in contact with the company I wrote my thesis for during my Bachelor degree. So after completing my master degree and writing my thesis about social media and content marketing in Dresden at the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems, I moved back to Amsterdam to start working as a PR assistant at DENSO. During Covid and being stuck at home, I decided also to start my own side hustle Taart & Bloem, a scented soy wax candle company.

You work as a consultant at Meines Holla & Partners in the Hague. Can you walk us through a typical day in your professional life?

The office specializes in Dutch-German politics, which gave me the opportunity to dive into Dutch politics and strengthen Dutch- German business relationships. We advise a variety of clients. The exciting part about it is that not every day is the same since we are catering to the clients needs on individual level. However, in general in the morning we catch up on the latest news via newspapers and new publications from the parliament. We meet with clients, watch debates in the Tweede kamer and prepare information packages for clients as well as politicians.

Reflecting on your time at AMSIB, what are the key take-aways from your studies that you find useful in your career and day to day life?

When I started at AMSIB, I loved to learn about intercultural management. Now working for a fully Dutch company, I learned how to adjust and embrace the cultural nuances between Dutch and German working culture.

During your experience at AMSIB, can you recount a particularly memorable moment or period that stands out as your favourite?

During my time at AMSIB, I am happy for the people I met during that journey. I also was able to go on exchange to Long Beach California and afterwards do my minor in Spain. I am grateful for the teachers who supported my decision and helped me getting all the papers approved. Receiving an education in such an international environment was definitely my highlight.

If you had the chance to tweak or enrich one aspect of your experience at AMSIB, what would it be and why?

During my studies, I would have loved to learn more about social media marketing or public relations. While I was studying I believed that I would never work in marketing, since the idea to market a fridge or washing machine did not excite me. However during various internships I learned that there is more to marketing than promoting white goods. Having the opportunity a AMSIB to do an internship and write a thesis at a company, gives first impulses on how corporate life would be and which areas and companies fit your personality.

Considering your journey and experiences, what advice would you offer to current students navigating their academic and professional paths?

I put a lot of pressure on myself to have good grades, attend extracurricular and graduate in time. In the end, I had a study delay. I thought the world is going to end.

My advice is, enjoy the time while studying and make the most of it. I don’t encourage a study delay but sometimes thing happen that you can not control and I know from experience that the world will not end because of it.

Secondly, choose a minor you enjoy at the moment. It will not determine the rest your career. When I started my studies, I never imagined at they would work in politics and enjoy it.

As an established professional and alum, what wisdom or guidance would you share with fellow alumni as they embark on their own careers?

There are so many opportunities in the world. Have the courage to explore it.

Lastly, to add a bit of fun to our conversation, could you share an interesting or quirky fact about yourself that others might not know?

I love to bake and experiment with new recipes. I currently got into sourdough. If you might now, sourdough is like a Tamagotchi that needs to be feed every other week, otherwise it dies. I got a bit carried away with feeding the dough, and not having enough time to actually making bread, that I am now making sourdough cakes, which are surprisingly tasty.