Ella Manssen’s Post

Reflecting on my MBA journey, I look back on some incredible opportunities that came my way. One of the highlights was the exchange semester in Europe. Those four months were nothing short of amazing—packed with enriching experiences, lifelong friendships, and a deeper understanding of different cultures. From wandering through charming streets to savoring diverse cuisines, every day was an adventure waiting to unfold. The blend of fun and learning during my exchange was truly a transformative experience. Knowing that many of you might be gearing up for your own exchange journeys this year, I wanted to share something that could add value to your preparations. I've put together a practical Excel sheet, a handy companion designed to assist you in various aspects: 🛂 Packing essentials and smart travel tips. 🏠 Insights into accommodations, with a special focus on those heading to Lille (including helpful contacts). 💰 Budgeting advice, complete with estimated costs and essential trip details. 🌟 Recommendations for must-try activities, local delicacies, and hidden gems, neatly categorized by country. Feel free to access the Excel sheet here:  https://lnkd.in/d8jMNzy7 If you have any queries or need personalized insights, don't hesitate to connect. Here's to embracing the incredible journey that lies ahead and making the most of every moment during your exchange adventure! #MBAJourney #GlobalPerspective #StudentExchange #CulturalEnrichment #TravelSmart #LinkedInCommunity

The second quarter of 2023 has now also come to an end. ⬇️Our evaluation is as follows: Compared to the first quarter of 2023, we conducted 7.5% more seminars in the second quarter. A total of 27 different country combinations and topics were covered. 🌎 The intercultural assignment trainings for Germany, with 29% were again the most seminars of a country combination this quarter, followed by the trainings with the country combination USA, with 21%. A total of 69% of our seminars were Germany-related, up 28% from the previous quarter of 2023. 🇩🇪 Our highlights: Once again this quarter, we welcomed a new accounting staff member and a new intern. We look forward to the next six months and wish all the best. 🤩 How do you assess the second quarter of 2023 in terms of your company? 🤔 Clicking on the following link will take you to our website with our services and many blog posts on the topic of intercultural assignments: https://lnkd.in/eDMqQiws #globalmobility #hrconsulting #evaluation #culturehackers #culture

🇫🇷 𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗙-𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘: 𝗠𝗬 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗦𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗔𝗗 𝗜𝗡 𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 I've completed my first semester as a Double Degree Student at EM Strasbourg Business School. Looking back on the first half of my time in France, I would like to share three takeaways. 🌍 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱. In Strasbourg, I got to experience the French “Savoir-Vivre”. I discovered that locals highly value their language appreciating efforts from non-native speakers to communicate in French. Moreover, never in my life have I met so many other different cultures than in my stay abroad. During class, I enhanced my understanding of diverse working and communication styles across cultures. Additionally, the professors, with their unique cultural backgrounds, brought valuable perspectives to the field of Marketing, making the learning experience more insightful.  📌 𝙸𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚠 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑𝚜, 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚞𝚒𝚕𝚍 𝚊 𝚗𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 - 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜. 🤝 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲. At EM Strasbourg, the courses are designed to be interactive and involve practical learning. This means that a major part of my classes included working in teams and giving presentations. I want to be honest; it was a bit challenging at first, especially dealing with cultural differences in communication and working styles. However, facing these challenges helped me improve my empathy as well as communication and teamwork skills.  📌 𝙸 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚖 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚘𝚗 𝚐𝚘𝚊𝚕�� 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚢 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚏𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚛. ⏳𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵.  A short time abroad can feel like a lot - meeting new people, exploring a city in a different country, and trying to make the most of the limited stay. It can be hard to process all these new experiences. For me, stepping out of my comfort zone has been crucial for personal and professional growth, but I've also realized the importance of taking personal time to reflect and absorb everything.  📌 𝙱𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚘𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚢 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚍𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚙𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝. My first semester at EM Strasbourg has been a great learning experience personally and professionally. I am already excited about the upcoming semester and especially looking forward to working on the master’s thesis with Professor Richard HUAMAN RAMIREZ, Ph.D.

My MBA in Spain was amazing, but the cultural shock was real! Attaining my MBA at IE Business School in Spain proved to be an immensely enriching journey, albeit one marked by unforeseen challenges upon embracing life abroad. Many Indians dream of living abroad, but when they make the move, they often encounter a range of cultural differences that can be quite surprising. Moving to Spain in late 2022, I encountered a significant language barrier, vastly different food customs, and a contrasting climate – all contributing to a steep cultural learning curve. Thankfully, fellow IE students and the supportive IE India Club helped with accommodation, language basics, and restaurant recommendations, easing my initial adjustment. This experience highlighted the unique challenges Indians face when moving abroad, especially to countries like Spain with limited English usage.  However, the warmth and hospitality of the Spanish people provided a welcoming counterpoint. Fast forward to September 2023, an exchange program in Canada offered another opportunity for cultural immersion. Applying the lessons learned in Spain, I navigated the transition much smoother. Adjusting to life in Canada, making friends, and managing daily life felt far less daunting. This journey underscores the importance of acknowledging and planning for a cultural shock when relocating. Yet, these experiences are ultimately transformative, building character and resilience. Residing in foreign lands introduces one to diverse lifestyles, allowing one to cultivate a more profound comprehension of the world and one's essence concurrently. Engaging in global voyages and immersing oneself in the rich tapestry of varied cultures represents an invaluable pursuit. It unveils the striking parallels that bind us as human beings, surpassing cultural disparities and fostering global connectivity. What are your biggest concerns about moving to a new country? Share your thoughts in the comments! #stayingabroad #studentlife #startupfunding #lifelessons #uditguptaca

As next month marks a year since my business study abroad program, I want to reflect on my takeaway from the experience. On May 7, 2023, 7 of my fellow peers and I began our journey to Western Europe. In particular, we went on to visit four countries: France, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. Within each country, we were graced with many opportunities including company visits, cooking classes, and even collaboration with university students. As the activity of these experiences remain in the past, it is my transformed perspective that continues to exist with me today! I have included my thoughts in an attached document, but I will provide a snippet below! Finally, I want to thank Cari Borisuk and Jacob Voegel for organizing such an enriching experience!! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following is what I learned… 1. We, as individuals, need to spend more time understanding rather than assuming/judging. I believe this statement to be relevant across all societies, and it was especially highlighted throughout my European travels. For instance, I have long heard stereotypes such as Germans being "cold", Parisians being "rude", or even the Dutch being "too direct"; however, I believe these sentiments are made with lack of understanding. In reality, the Germans are simply being German, the Dutch being Dutch, and so on. Many are so quick to associate such differences, especially in social environments, as unpleasant; however, I feel it is quite the contrary. If you really think about it, we all possess similarity, we are all conforming to our surroundings. The difference is the surroundings. Overall, “normality” lacks uniformity; thus, I encourage people to try and understand another’s “normal”, and continue to realize the beauty in different ways of life.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Exciting News! We are thrilled to be featured in the latest issue of Link 365, the magazine dedicated to the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK, highlighting our journey towards customer-centric logistics. 📦✨   Key Highlights from the Article "Shifting Gears to Customer-Centric Logistics": - Customer-Centric Approach: Our commitment to listening to customers and pre-emptively solving problems has helped us build a strong brand and loyal customer base. - Nordic and Local Expertise: With proactive communication and regional offices in the UK, we ensure efficient and reliable deliveries, strengthening local industry ties. - Green and Tech-Driven Future: We are committed to developing sustainable logistics, using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) to cut CO2 emissions and investing in technology like GPS tracking and upgraded IT systems for better transparency and customer communication.   Read the full article on pages 12-13 to learn more about how we are shifting gears towards a more customer-centric and sustainable logistics future.   Join us on this exciting journey and discover how we make logistics work for you!   #Logistics #CustomerCentric #Sustainability #Innovation #Link365 #NTEX

Exciting News! We are thrilled to be featured in the latest issue of Link 365, the magazine dedicated to the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK, highlighting our journey towards customer-centric logistics. 📦✨ Key Highlights from the Article "Shifting Gears to Customer-Centric Logistics": - Customer-Centric Approach: Our commitment to listening to customers and pre-emptively solving problems has helped us to build a strong brand and loyal customer base. - Nordic and Local Expertise: With proactive communication and regional offices in the UK, we ensure efficient and reliable deliveries, strengthening local industry ties. - Green and Tech-Driven Future: We are committed to developing sustainable logistics, exploring the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) to cut CO2 emissions and investing in technology like GPS tracking and upgraded IT systems for better transparency and customer communication. Read the full article on pages 12-13 to learn more about how we are shifting gears towards a more customer-centric and sustainable logistics future. Join us on this exciting journey and discover how we make logistics work for you! #Logistics #transport #CustomerCentric #Sustainability #Innovation #Link365 #NTEX

I have officially completed my year abroad in Barcelona at one of Spain’s top universities, Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Barcelona is just as beautiful as everyone makes it out to be. Being able to enjoy the multiculturalism of a big city, as well as the beauty of the coast and nature is one of the things I will miss most about living here. This year has been a roller-coaster of emotions, but I have learnt some life skills that I will value and use not only during my time at university but also in the future. Before moving I had lived in Liverpool with my parents for most of my life and had never dealt with the problems that come with living alone. I obviously had my own responsibilities especially with university and a part time job back home however moving to a new country all alone not knowing any of the people I’d be living with was a big step out of my comfort zone. This has been a learning experience for me, and I have faced multiple issues for the first time while being away from home, which has led to my independence to increase majorly. I am a lot more confident as a person but especially when it comes to dealing with problems. I don’t feel like I need to constantly rely on someone and instead can work things out by myself. My confidence is another aspect that has improved. I was quite shy in school and ever since university I have ben pushed outside my comfort zone in so many ways that it has almost forced me to be more confident in myself. While being abroad I have experienced this multiple times. For example, the number of presentations here in comparison to Liverpool is vastly different. Previously in my modules I personally had never had to present in front of my classmates and the idea of it alone caused me a lot of stress. However, after this year and at least 10 presentations I can proudly say they don’t worry me nowhere near as much and I would feel a lot better presenting now knowing what to expect from them. The majority of presentations here were also group work, which especially at university level can be extremely stressful. Although it was not always easy, I did benefit from them long term as I developed multiple skills. Some of the key ones being communication and organization. These are essential when working as a team. It is difficult to work together when everyone has such different schedules especially when we were given limited time for these assignments. This meant I have had to take leadership and organise meetings as soon as possible to allow everyone to work at their own pace and when they had the time. This has proven to be very efficient given the grades and feedback received on every group project. I still prefer working alone when it comes to graded assignments at university, however this will benefit me in my future career when I am required to work alongside clients and colleagues. I will always look back at my experience in Barcelona with joy and I could not recommend it enough.  

Reflecting on my MBA days my most beautiful memory was my summer internship and exchange semester in Italy, as I found myself captivated by the enchanting blend of history, art, and culinary delights. I got a chance to travel across 20 countries. From strolling through the ancient streets of Milan, tracing the Renaissance footsteps in Italy, to sipping espresso in a quaint Paris cafe—every day was a discovery. Beyond the academic rigors, this journey across Europe became a mosaic of diverse cultures and perspectives. Engaging with fellow students from various corners of the world not only expanded my social horizons but also enriched my understanding of global dynamics. Travelling across Europe was like flipping through the pages of a living history book. The grandeur of the Eiffel Tower, the surreal beauty of the Swiss Alps, and the timeless allure of Barcelona—all contributed to a kaleidoscopic tapestry of experiences. Each destination left an indelible mark, shaping my worldview and fostering a deep appreciation for diversity. Moreover, the challenges of navigating through different languages and cultural norms enhanced my adaptability and resilience. It was not just about ticking off destinations from a bucket list but about embracing the unexpected, navigating uncertainties, and finding joy in spontaneous moments. As I reflect on this chapter, I carried with me not just academic knowledge but a treasure trove of memories, friendships, and a renewed sense of self. This exchange semester and European odyssey had undoubtedly been a transformative milestone, preparing me to face the global landscape with a broader perspective and an open heart.  #ExchangeSemester #Bocconi #EuropeanOdyssey #LifeChangingExperience