Stephanie Jüstel
Who are you and what company do you currently work for? And in what position (your responsibilities)?
My name is Stephanie Jüstel and I am currently working as an Assistant Manager at the World Trade Center Metz-Saarbrücken (WTC) and as a business development employee at the agency Inspire Metz, where I am currently in charge of promoting the attractiveness of the city of Metz. I oversee international projects and participate in WTC network meetings around the world. My last trips were to Abidjan (Ivory Coast), New York, and Rotterdam. My work is very diversified: I am responsible for the organization and implementation of German-French conferences and business delegations, I recruit and supervise new members nationally and internationally, and I create social media posts in German, French, and English.
What is your bachelor’s degree in?
I completed my bachelor’s degree in business psychology.
Why did you choose the Master’s in Franco-German Management?
After my Franco-German volunteer service, I wanted to develop my French language skills so that I could live and work in France. The Master’s in Franco-German Management enabled me not only to expand my language skills through the phases abroad, I was also given the opportunity to acquire basic business skills and learn intercultural skills at the same time.
What expectations did you have of the Master’s in Franco-German Management? What makes this degree program unique from your point of view?
The Master’s in Franco-German Management stands out above all because the course content is very broad: From the legal foundations of international business administration to marketing and finance & controlling, students in this program gain insight into many interesting areas. In addition, the various classes are taught in German, French, or English, which helped me to get to know the different working cultures just through the way the lecturers taught. I then rediscovered a lot of the content of my studies in my day-to-day work, which speaks for the fact that theory and practice are closely intertwined at in this degree program.
Is there anything in your studies that has remained particularly memorable for you?
I particularly remember the sense of cohesion in the bi-national study group. In the event of language or content-related difficulties, the students stuck together and helped one another. I also had the opportunity to build up a professional network during my first semester in Metz as part of the Franco-German project week, which helped me to get a salaried position from the fourth semester onward.
To what extent did your studies and the two required internships help you start your career?
I already spent my first required internship at the WTC. Thanks to the many practical examples in my studies, the German-French study projects with a public relations focus, the trilingual study modules, and the very good and friendly cooperation with the German and French students, I quickly found my way in the international day-to-day business, was able to implement my own ideas, and build up a professional network. Thanks to the Master’s in Franco-German Management, I was ideally prepared for working across borders.
Have you participated in alumni events as a student? What do you think of the degree program’s alumni network?
Since I live in Metz, I always tried to attend the Alumni Day. So far, this has been a good opportunity to interact with fellow students from my degree program and from subsequent years.
