{"id":13214,"date":"2020-05-20T12:40:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-20T10:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.esmt.berlin\/voices\/?p=13214"},"modified":"2023-02-08T15:17:45","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T13:17:45","slug":"startups-to-microsoft-how-an-mba-in-berlin-helped-me-pivot-my-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.esmt.berlin\/voices\/startups-to-microsoft-how-an-mba-in-berlin-helped-me-pivot-my-career\/","title":{"rendered":"Startups to Microsoft: How an MBA in Berlin helped me pivot my career"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"326\" height=\"245\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.esmt.berlin\/voices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Hillary-Batchelder.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13230\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.esmt.berlin\/voices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Hillary-Batchelder.png 326w, https:\/\/blog.esmt.berlin\/voices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Hillary-Batchelder-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.esmt.berlin\/voices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Hillary-Batchelder-80x60.png 80w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 326px) 100vw, 326px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through an MBA, Hillary Batchelder pulled off an impressive career pivot, moving from startup life to a role with tech giant, Microsoft. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Hillary Batchelder wanted to \u201chit reset\u201d on her career, an MBA was the ideal solution. Her efforts paid off, and she left her one year program with a job offer from Microsoft Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Originally from the USA, Hillary began her career in a sales role with digital publishing startup, SmartBrief. Although she enjoyed the job, there were few opportunities for advancement within the small company.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hoping to open up new opportunities, and underpin her skills with broader business acumen, she decided to attend business school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI thought the MBA would be a really good way to pivot my career,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Finding a place to lay roots<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While looking for the perfect MBA program, Hillary had a few goals in mind. She wanted to complete the program in one year, to avoid taking a long break from her career, and to expand her horizons by studying in a vibrant new location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When she came across the\u00a0MBA program at ESMT Berlin, it ticked all the boxes.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBerlin is such a great place to do an MBA because the startup scene is booming,\u201d Hillary recalls. \u201cI knew that I\u2019d also be able to network in the city, and go to meetups.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The city\u2019s friendly international atmosphere, and affordable cost of living, made Hillary feel she could start a life in Berlin when she graduated.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At ESMT, Hillary was soon immersed in her classes, and the \u2018Managerial Decision Making\u2019 module stood out in particular. The module focuses on perfecting processes rather than only considering outcomes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat\u2019s something that\u2019s really stuck with me, and has been important for the jobs I moved into,\u201d Hillary reflects.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study trip she took to Singapore and Vietnam was another highlight, she says. Here, she put her new knowledge to use evaluating how and why these countries had developed so differently despite their proximity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Launching a Microsoft career<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Hillary graduated from the MBA, she took up a role in Munich with Microsoft, as part of the tech giant\u2019s MBA program.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the program, graduates are placed in a role that suits their skills, and given support by mentors in the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hillary credits ESMT with connecting her to Microsoft, and supporting her through the application process. During the MBA, she visited the Munich office on a class trip, and got a taste of the culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWithout that connection, it would have been much harder to apply,\u201d she reflects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Creating a collaborative culture<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Having worked with startups for most of her career, Hillary was a little sceptical about joining a large firm. After speaking with some ESMT graduates at the company, though, she felt more confident in her decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Hillary joined Microsoft in 2018, the company was in the middle of a huge cultural transformation effort, led by CEO Satya Nadella.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the past, different departments had become quite siloed, causing tension to develop between them, Hillary explains.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNadella had been promoted from within the company, and wanted to restructure things so it could be more collaborative,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Hillary was offered a role in Microsoft\u2019s HR department, the timing was ideal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Business Manager in HR, she worked on various cultural transformation projects, using the communication and collaboration skills she developed at ESMT Berlin.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the MBA program, she worked with a diverse mix of people, from different professional and cultural backgrounds, and with different goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI saw myself growing so much from term to term in how I was working with the groups I was in,\u201d she recalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Microsoft, Hillary leverages these skills when working across teams. \u201cBeing able to pinpoint the interests of different stakeholders that I\u2019m working with, and finding areas of overlap has been really important,\u201d she explains.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Working at home with Microsoft<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hillary recently transitioned to a new job with Microsoft, as product marketing manager for the company\u2019s UK operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this role, she helps businesses through technological transformations, advising on the right suite of Microsoft products and services. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although she is working remotely for the time being due to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessbecause.com\/news\/live\/coronavirus\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">coronavirus<\/a>, Hillary feels connected to her new team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moving entirely online has been a challenge, but she believes it will strengthen company culture overall, by encouraging staff to be inclusive with colleagues who require more flexible working conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mindfulness classes offered by Microsoft have also helped maintain a culture of work life balance, Hillary adds, helping staff take care of themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s on everyone\u2019s mind to make sure we keep a balance, because it\u2019s a marathon not a sprint,\u201d she notes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hillary is keen to continue her journey in this inclusive culture. \u201cI feel really lucky to be part of this organization, and I feel like there\u2019s still so much more for me to learn,\u201d she says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This article was originally published by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessbecause.com\/news\/mba-jobs\/6960\/startups-microsoft-mba-career-pivot\">BusinessBecause<\/a> on may 12, 2020, and republished with permission. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p><span class=\"rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\"><\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\">3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">min read<\/span><\/span> Through an MBA, Hillary Batchelder pulled off an impressive career pivot, moving from startup life to a role with tech giant, Microsoft. When Hillary Batchelder <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.esmt.berlin\/voices\/startups-to-microsoft-how-an-mba-in-berlin-helped-me-pivot-my-career\/\" title=\"Startups to Microsoft: How an MBA in Berlin helped me pivot my career\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13230,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[732,736],"tags":[624,23,183],"ppma_author":[1283],"class_list":["post-13214","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-careers","tag-alumni","tag-mba-life","tag-startup"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Startups to Microsoft: How an MBA in Berlin helped me pivot my career | ESMT Berlin Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Through an MBA, 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