Class of 2024
Vietnam

• What motivated you to choose the MPMD programme at HTW Berlin?
  After graduating, I worked in Business Consulting field and took part in a research project on Vietnamese businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. We found that inefficient internal data recording and forecasting were major reasons for the instability of small and medium-sized enterprises. These businesses struggled to adapt to sudden market changes, leading to disruptions.
  This experience highlighted the crucial role of data in driving business performance and confirmed my desire to pursue the MPMD program at HTW Berlin. I am motivated to join the program to deepen my understanding of data's impact on business operations and to improve my skills in data analysis and forecasting. The MPMD program offers a perfect mix of theoretical knowledge and practical application, which I believe is essential for addressing the challenges faced by businesses today.
• In your opinion, what makes this programme unique or special?
  For me, the unique aspect of the program is its balance between academic learning and real-life experiences. We not only work hard at the university with excellent professors, but we also get hands-on experience through various projects. Additionally, the program management is very helpful and supportive. They organize extracurricular activities such as bowling, ice skating, and summer parties, which allow us to get to know each other better. As a result, I have formed amazing friendships with my classmates that I truly value.
• Could you describe your current job?
  Currently, I am working as a Market Insights Specialist at a pharmaceutical company. This role aligns with my career goals, as it allows me to leverage market data to enhance business performance. For me, it represents a gateway to numerous opportunities, where I can observe how data and AI-driven tools can be implemented to foster business growth.
  Additionally, my team includes colleagues who are data scientists working on forecasting models. Although I do not work directly with them, observing their work has been highly educational. This exposure has sparked my interest in potentially developing my skills in this field in the future.
• What was your experience with the hybrid (online and in-person) learning format?
  The hybrid study mode is one of the aspects I appreciate most about the program. It provides me with the flexibility to manage my schedule proactively. The program equips us with the necessary tools, such as webcams and the e-learning platform Moodle, to succeed in this format. The hybrid format also allows me to avoid going outside during Berlin's winter, which is great since I come from a tropical country and the cold is not my thing. For in-person classes, I really enjoy the chocolates that Prof. Tilo Wendler brings to every class.
• What advice would you give to future MPMD students for managing their studies and personal life?
  My advice to future MPMD students is to be proactive in your learning. While the program provides fundamental knowledge in Data Sciences, staying up to date with the latest advancements is crucial due to the fast-paced development of technology. Regularly read industry publications, participate in online forums, and consider additional courses or certifications.
  Finding a working student job is also beneficial. It enhances your profile and allows you to apply what you learn to real-world situations, improving your skills and understanding. With the hybrid study mode, balancing self-study and live classes is manageable. Create a structured schedule to allocate time for both academic and personal activities, using tools like calendars and task management apps.
  Lastly, enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of Berlin. Make friends, travel, and immerse yourself in the local culture. These experiences will enrich your time in the program and provide a well-rounded perspective.
  
• If you could have a coffee or tea with anyone, who would it be and why?
  If I could have a coffee or tea with anyone, it would be my mother, my boyfriend, and my friends in Vietnam. They have been my mental support throughout this journey, and I miss them dearly. Additionally, I really miss our famous Vietnamese coffee.
  

Class of 2024
Taiwan

• What motivated you to choose the MPMD programme at HTW Berlin?
  I majored in Finance during my undergraduate studies, and after graduation, I worked as a Product Manager and Project Manager. As I was planning my career, I realized that having coding skills and integrating them with the growing fields of data science and data analysis is crucial. This led me to search for a suitable Master's program. Unlike other schools that focus solely on business or pure data science, HTW Berlin offered a comprehensive program that combines both areas, which is why it became my top choice.   
• In your opinion, what makes this programme unique or special?
  I believe the most unique aspect of this program is the diversity of students, the beginner-friendly
  learning environment, and the hands-on approach that connects theory with real-world projects. Our class is made up of students from over ten different countries, and it was a pleasant surprise to build friendships with people from various backgrounds and cultures. Before joining MPMD, I had no coding background or experience. However, through the professors' patient step-by-step guidance, I felt confident by graduation that I had gained the technical skills needed to analyze and solve real-world problems. The professors also used projects to familiarize us with challenges companies face in the real world, allowing us to go beyond theoretical learning and understand how to apply our knowledge practically. It was a truly fulfilling experience.
  
• Could you describe your current job?
  I currently work as a Tech Product Manager at a consulting firm, which brings me closer to my ideal career goals. While my role is still that of a Product Manager, I now have more technical knowledge and background, allowing me to communicate more effectively with people from diverse technical backgrounds. Working at an international consulting firm, our clients are often large brands, and the projects and products we work on are both interesting and challenging. I am excited about my work and see plenty of opportunities for growth.
• What was your experience with the hybrid (online and in-person) learning format?
  The MPMD program allows us to attend each class in a hybrid format, which I personally find very
  flexible. When my work schedule gets busy, I can still enjoy the same quality of teaching from home. I also want to praise E-moodle for being a great help during my self-learning process. I believe that as long as you are committed to learning, MPMD provides enough resources to help you grow.
  
• What advice would you give to future MPMD students for managing their studies and personal life?
  Depending on each person's level and passion for the subjects, I personally wanted to absorb as
  much knowledge as possible in Data Science, as this was an area where I had less experience.
  Therefore, I made an effort to attend relevant courses in person to interact directly with professors and focus more on the class. I also believe that self-discipline is an essential trait for Master students. You need good time management to complete projects, review what you've learned, and manage presentations, assignments, and exam deadlines. At the same time, enjoying extracurricular life in Europe and seeking working student opportunities during your studies are also very important. Therefore, time management truly becomes an art.
  
• If you could have a coffee or tea with anyone, who would it be and why?
  If I have the opportunity, I would love to have a coffee chat with Pieter Levels, a serial entrepreneur from Netherland. I have always been fascinated by the process of turning ideas from conception to execution and automation, and I really admire his hands-on approach and unconventional style in entrepreneurship. I believe a conversation with him would offer a lot of inspiration and motivation.
  

Class of 2024
Colombia

• Why did you decide to study MPMD at HTW Berlin?
  I decided to study MPMD at HTW Berlin for several reasons. Back in Colombia, I was working on data-related topics and had managed various projects in the past. I felt that the MPMD program would be a great combination of my experience and future goals. Additionally, I’ve always been attracted to Berlin as a super international and multicultural city. I was looking for an international experience, and it turned out to be even better than I imagined.   
• What’s special about this study programme?
  What’s special about this program is definitely the people. The opportunity to study with classmates from different countries and learn about their cultures is a unique experience. It's also great to meet new friends who are going through the same adaptation process. The program coordinators are always ready to help with the transition and organize many activities to connect with other students and alumni. Last but not least, the professors are highly qualified. One aspect I really appreciate about the master’s program is that, in addition to the classes, there are workshops on tools like Power BI and Python, which help improve our skills.
  
• What job do you do now?
  Right now, I work in software QA engineering at an open-source data analytics, reporting, and integration platform. Although I’m not currently involved in machine learning projects at work, in my free time, I continue learning and working on machine learning and AI projects.
• How was it to study partly online? Did anything surprise you about studying online?
  Studying online has been a great experience. Although most of the time I was present in the classroom, there were occasions when I wasn’t in the city or couldn’t leave home for some reason. In those cases, I could still attend the class from home or any place with internet access, which was really convenient.
  
• Do you have any advise for future students how to organise yourself and life when studying online? Especially in terms of self-study parts and live classes.
  My advice for future students is to make sure to stay organized and manage your time effectively. It’s helpful to set a specific schedule each week to focus on the materials and practice regularly. Also, using platforms like DataCamp for extra courses can help reinforce what you’re learning in the master’s program. It can also be a valuable addition to your CV. Balancing your studies with some personal time is also important, so don't forget to take breaks and stay connected with your classmates for support.
  
• Who would you like to have a cup of coffee or tea with?
  I’d like to have a cup of coffee with Gabriel García Márquez. His work has deeply influenced my perspective on storytelling and how we connect with our culture.
  

Class of 2023
Vietnam

• Why did you decide to study MPMD at HTW Berlin?
  I had been working in Product Management and felt a growing inclination towards Data Science. The MPMD program at HTW Berlin seemed like an ideal bridge, connecting my previous experience with the world of data.  
• What’s special about this study programme?
  One standout aspect of this program is the hands-on experience. Students get the opportunity to work on real-world Data Science projects. For certain subjects, instead of solving well-formulated problems, the students need to identify a problem themselves and find its solution, encouraging critical and innovative thinking.
• What job do you do now?
  Currently, I hold a position as a Data Engineer, where I am involved in designing and maintaining data infrastructure. While this role keeps me engaged, I haven't abandoned my passion for Machine Learning. Outside of my job, I dedicate some time to work on Machine Learning projects, allowing me to continuously explore and innovate in that domain.
• How was it to study partly online? Did anything surprise you about studying online?
  Studying online in MPMD program was a smooth experience. The course materials were well curated and made available on our online study platform, Moodle. The sessions were interactive and engaging, ensuring that the virtual environment didn't hinder our learning process.
• Do you have any advise for future students how to organise yourself and life when studying online? Especially in terms of self-study parts and live classes.
  For those planning to embark on this journey, I'd recommend supplementing your curriculum with external courses on programming languages or specialized data science topics. This additional effort not only accelerates your learning curve but also ensures you stand out in the job market post-graduation.
• Who would you like to have a cup of coffee or tea with?
  I would love to have an opportunity to sit down with Huyen Chip. Coming from Vietnam, like myself, she wears many hats - a writer, computer scientist, and a prominent AI influencer. She wrote "Designing Machine Learning Systems" (O’Reilly, 2022), a very well-known book among machine learning scientists and engineers. I deeply admire her tenacity and vision in realizing her dreams.

Class of 2022
Japan

• Why did you decide to study MPMD at HTW Berlin?
  I became interested in coding and machine learning and wanted to shift my career to data analysis and data science, but I felt constrained by my background in the social sciences. The MPMD program was one of the best options for me to provide myself with the technical and non-technical abilities I needed for careers requiring data analysis.  
• What’s special about this study programme?
  Unlike many other academic programmes, MPMD uses a special approach to get students ready for what a data analyst or data scientist would be expected to do in actual business scenarios. Along with academic and technical lectures, the curriculum also offers non-technical classes on leadership, project management, team projects, and labs where you can push yourself and improve your communication and management skills, which are crucial for working at a company. I think this is what makes the MPMD programme special.
• What job do you do now?
  I currently work at Wayfair as a pricing data analyst. I now have the opportunity to use my statistical and machine learning knowledge to help me make more effective and profitable business decisions. Of course, I also create attractive dashboards to engage stakeholders.
• How was it to study online? Did anything surprise you about studying online?
  Online learning can be challenging at times, especially when you need to collaborate with others on tasks or feel the desire to mingle with others. The good news is that you can take full advantage of being able to study and work remotely from any location in the world! Moreover, cutting down on the time spent on commuting can improve your efficiency. The MPMD program gives you the tools you need to communicate and share information online as easily as possible.
• Do you have any advise for future students how to organise yourself and life when studying online?
  Make a timetable in advance to study what you learn from the lectures after classes, and don't forget to treat yourself to free time on weekends to refresh your mind.
• How did you manage to write your Master's thesis during the COVID-19 pandemic? Do you have any advice for fellow or future students how to cope with this situation from an academic view?
  Try to have a systematic approach right from the beginning. Do not jump directly onto the coding part; instead, invest time in learning about your topic first! If you do not feel comfortable with scientific writing, work on it. Always ask yourself whether the research questions can be answered within the duration of the thesis. If the topic is too complex, narrow it down.

Class of 2022
India

Two of our students from India were interviewed by German newspaper Berliner Morgenpost to talk about their life and experiences in Berlin. Anushruti and Aakash form part of an indian community in Berlin which is with 18% the highest number of foreign people in the German capital.

Class of 2021
Turkey

• Why did you decide to study MPMD at HTW Berlin?
  To make a career transition. MPMD provides a good combination of academic and practical work; technical classes, company projects and a master thesis.  
• What’s special about this study programme?
  The design of the program is actually beyond the coursework. You get what you put into it. The further you go, the more opportunities open up for you. You can effectively reinvent yourself. 
  
• What job do you do now?
  Currently, I work at Marley Spoon as a full stack data scientist. I design, develop, deploy and maintain ML pipelines in production for all Marley Spoon brands and territories across the globe.
• How was it to study online? Did anything surprise you about studying online?
  Much better. Two daily hours in commuting time (had spent the first semester at the campus) poured into work. It was surprising how it actually accelerates the compound effect; small choices + consistency + time = significant results.
• Do you have any advise for future students how to organise yourself and life when studying online?
  Essentialism. Work on what matters the most. Live by design, not by default. Schedule deep work, free time and every minute daily. Stop daydreaming, build concentration for achieving the flow state. Understand cue-routine-reward cycle of your habits in order to fix them. Don’t be a slave of results: have the “progress” mindset: use “not yet!”, avoid “I am, I can not”.
• How did you manage to write your Master's thesis during the COVID-19 pandemic? Do you have any advice for fellow or future students how to cope with this situation from an academic view?
  Start early on. Try to simulate Parkinson’s law by giving yourself unrealistic, tight deadlines. Study scientific writing. Master your reference management software. Benefit a lot from open-access online archives with millions of papers. Do not pick an overly complex topic if you are not ready to work ten times harder than anyone else.

Class of 2021
Vietnam

• Why did you decide to study MPMD at HTW Berlin?
  I was planning to change my career path and focus more on Data analysis/ Data science. MPMD program at HTW Berlin offers a chance for people of non-technical background like me to step into this area and discover new career opportunities.  
• What’s special about this study programme?
  Case study and team projects in many modules help students to become proactive, flexible and grow quickly. Knowledge does not only come from professors and lecturers, but also from other students with diverse backgrounds and cultures. In addition, the program management team is always very supportive. 
• What job do you do now?
  I have been working as a Working student in Analytics at eBay Kleinanzeigen and will soon switch to a full-time Business/Product Analyst.
• What do you miss about your time at HTW Berlin?
  The good time spending with my classmates doing projects and hanging out after class. I am also grateful to two professors from whom I have learned a lot, Professor Tilo Wendler and Professor Michael Jaensch! 
• Who would you like to have a cup of coffee with?
  The professors and classmates – I haven’t got a chance to see them in a while.
• How did you manage to write your Master's thesis during the COVID-19 pandemic? Do you have any advice for fellow or future students how to cope with this situation from an academic view?
  First thing is always to start early. The literature review requires a lot of time to read relevant books and academic papers, which you can find on the Internet, at HTW Library or the online sources that HTW provides. Ask for feedback from the supervisors about your methodology and process. And do not forget to have some break time to ease your mind ;-)

Class of 2020
South Korea

• Why did you decide to study MPMD at HTW Berlin?
  It provides a wide range of academic lectures that helped me build broad knowledge regarding data science. Since data science is not just one subject, but is instead a multidisciplinary area, the comprehensive course of MPMD at HTW Berlin attracted me a lot. 
• What’s special about this study programme?
  Not only developing programming skills, but also experiencing project management theories. In particular, studying Agile methods and state-of-the-art project management theory such as SCRUM was very helpful for my job search. 
• What job do you do now?
  I got a job offer from Accenture as a senior consultant for data science/analytics. I will be responsible for various data analytic projects regarding digital transformation, business intelligence, AI solution development or data driven corporate strategy development from numerous clients, which will be normally big companies from the DACH region.
• What do you miss about your time at HTW Berlin?
  I miss my Saturday morning’s study at the window seat in Mensa of Wilhelminenhof campus. The river view from Wilhelminenhof campus helped me concentrate on my projects very well! 
• Who would you like to have a cup of coffee with?
  Professor Tilo Wendler! I learned a lot about data science from him during my semesters. Thus, I want to buy a cup of coffee to appreciate him.
• How did you manage to write your Master's thesis during the COVID-19 pandemic? Do you have any advice for fellow or future students how to cope with this situation from an academic view?
  Start earlier, listen to experts carefully and don’t hesitate to ask a question! These were my secrets to manage my thesis in this hard time. From deciding on my thesis topic to structuring research to writing, this is not an easy process. So, it would be helpful to accept external resources, as much as possible. It should work for you, too, since it worked for me.

Class of 2020
China.

• Why did you decide to study MPMD at HTW Berlin?My previous study and work experience is project management in the automotive industry. MPMD is a good combination for me to start data science. 
• What’s special about this study programme?
  The diversity of nationalities in the class makes this programme very special. A lot of projects together with classmates helps a lot to gain experience.  
• What job do you do now?
  I will start working as a research associate in the Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants soon. The work is related to natural language processing, which my master’s thesis is about too.
• What do you miss about your time at HTW Berlin?
  The student life in the campus and nice moment with classmates. 
• Who would you like to have a cup of coffee with?
  My supervisors Professor Wendler and Dr Rasch, and all my classmates.
• How did you manage to write your Master's thesis during the COVID-19 pandemic? Do you have any advice for fellow or future students how to cope with this situation from an academic view?
  I’m happy to share my experience and give some advice if it can be helpful to someone. Being a mom of two small children during the closure of the kindergarten, I had a lot more challenges, as you can imagine. I managed to finish my thesis in time. Firstly, choice of the topic must be something you are really interested in. I prepared myself for the theoretical parts already in the third semester. Secondly, I stuck to the plan. Either you have to set a scheduled plan or the supervisor gives you the plan for when you need to finish each part. Third, start early and read papers. Start as early as possible. Read more relevant papers, which will be very helpful to write your own thesis.

Class of 2020
Germany

• Why did you decide to study MPMD at HTW Berlin?
  I had a business background with some solid statistical knowledge, but I didn’t know much about trending algorithms. When “data science” became ubiquitous in media and job vacancies, I decided to pursue a degree in this field – and MPMD combines business subjects with statistical programming.
• What’s special about this study programme?
  Definitely the students; people from all over the world, with different professional and educational backgrounds. It’s not just computer scientists or just economists, so you can learn a lot about different perspectives.
• What job do you do now?
  I'm working for the CSO office of a medium-sized IT system-house, in charge of data analysis, business intelligence and data protection.
• What do you miss about your time at HTW Berlin?
  Student life – even though Professor Wendler is famous for his 8 a.m. classes ;)
• Who would you like to have a cup of coffee with?
  Gabor Steingart – a brilliant mind and a real visionary.

Class of 2019
Venezuela

• Why did you decide to study MPMD at HTW Berlin?
  
• I was looking for a master’s programme to sharpen my analytical skills and that allowed me to position myself in a more data-oriented professional path. The HTW Berlin MPMD programme was the perfect fit and balance regarding location, quality and prospects.
• What’s special about this study programme?
  It gives you real hands-on cases and the freedom to experiment with several tools and techniques. Also, the fact that you get to interact in such a diverse environment with students coming from all backgrounds and countries helps you boost your communication skills and out-of-the-box thinking.
• What job do you do now?
  I am working as a data scientist in the consultancy sector mostly for marketing.
• What do you miss about your time at HTW Berlin?
  
• The opportunity to work with like-minded persons and good friends.
  
• Who would you like to have a cup of coffee with?
  Definitely my family :)

Class of 2019
India

• Why did you decide to study MPMD at HTW Berlin?
  
• I wanted to pursue my master’s in data science and was keen on doing it in a city that promoted start-ups and a university that offered a good balance. That’s when I found the MPMD programme, which gave me both and in a perfect blend.
• What’s special about this study programme?
  One of the main perks was people from various parts of the world. I got to look at things from different perspectives. There are two other people who make this programme very special, Tilo Wendler and Sylke Sedelies. They were the main reason why this coursework is so smooth, and I could always reach out to them for any sort of concern.
• What do you miss about your time at HTW Berlin?
  Definitely student life and the friends I made during my studies. Also, how warm I felt when I was at the campus.
• Who would you like to have a cup of coffee with?
  I am more of a tea person, so definitely a cup of ginger tea with the entire MPMD team at the campus :)

Class of 2018
Colombia

• Why did you decide to study MPMD at HTW Berlin?
  I decided to study this programme because of the attractive combination of analytics and project management in an international city like Berlin and at the biggest public university of applied sciences in Berlin. I had to choose a top programme in an excellent university to obtain a scholarship, and the MPMD qualified me to be sponsored by the government of Colombia with a Colfuturo scholarship.
• What’s special about this study programme?
  
• This programme offered two areas highly searched in the current job market; data science and artificial intelligence are buzzwords in almost every industry. Also PMP professionals are indispensable in any company, therefore the MPMD syllabus offers a unique skill set to position graduates in top careers.
• What job do you do now?
  
• I'm a senior administrative partner at Intel Deutschland GmbH supporting the Transportation Solution Division that develops in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) Systems.
• What do you miss about your time at HTW Berlin?
  
• I miss the cultural interaction with people from all over the world; it helped to challenge ourselves to get excellent results taking as an advantage the great diversity of views, study styles and out-of-the-box ideas. 
• Who would you like to have a cup of coffee with?
  
• I would like to have a cup of coffee with Angela Merkel. I admire her influence in politics, her science background and beliefs.