Patrick Pfeiffer

Tell us a little about yourself – both personally and professionally

Professionally, my passion evolves around growth and marketing. I studied Communications and Law during my undergrad, and at the same time started to gather experiences in this field at a marketing agency, multiple consulting firms, a VC, a startup and a tech company.

In my opinion, Marketing is the perfect combination of analytical but also creative work, and being a part of growing and scaling a business – be it a small startup that just launched or an established company – is something I find really exciting and inspiring.

Personally, I really love to get to know new people, cultures and perspectives, and to be surrounded by a group of diverse, international people. That’s why I always tried to spend as much time abroad as possible – be it during school, university, or my personal time.

After COVID shattered my exchange plans during my undergrad and limited interactions beyond one’s own bubble, I was even more determined to find a Masters degree that provides such an international, open and diverse environment, and that’s when I applied to INSEAD.

Why did you choose to pursue the INSEAD MIM?

For me, three main factors were important:

Firstly, coming from a non-business background, I was looking to equip myself with the skills required to enter the business world, without spending three years on another bachelor's degree.

With its world-class faculty, the accelerated curriculum and the opportunity to tailor your curriculum through the different electives (e.g., I was able to take several marketing/growth-related courses), the MIM seemed like the perfect choice for that.

Secondly, I was still not 100% convinced what I wanted to do after graduating. Yhere seemed to be so many interesting options and I was looking for guidance and insights I could not get anywhere else. Here, INSEAD’s alumni network was a major help for me, as I was able to easily reach out and talk with people from different industries all across the globe. Combined with the extensive CDC offerings, this really helped me to sharpen my focus and figure out what I really wanted to do.

Lastly (and most importantly), I wanted to expose myself to new cultures, people and ideas. The opportunity to study in up to five different countries in a group of incredibly diverse people from 35+ different countries and backgrounds was something that really made INSEAD stand out to me compared to all other business schools.

Any memorable moments that you are still fond of?

So many, I don’t even know where to start! From the first week on campus, meeting all my new classmates and settling into this new environment, to all the trips we organised (a ski trip to the French alps and trips to Bali and Phuket, just to name a few), to the graduation in Singapore and the final week of the programme in San Francisco – the experiences and friendships I made during the 10 months at INSEAD will certainly last a lifetime.

It’s been over a year now since you graduated from the programme, how have things been for you?

Really good!

After the programme ended, I first did a summer internship in product marketing at a tech company before moving back to Munich to start my current role as a consultant in the growth, marketing and sales practice of a strategy consulting firm.

I’m also still in close touch with many of my former classmates, and some of them actually moved to Munich as well. We still go on trips together, had a big reunion in Greece earlier this year, and later this month around 35 MIMs are coming to Munich for Oktoberfest!

Has the programme helped you professionally?

Definitely!

First, it equipped me with the skills and tools that I need now to succeed in my job. Second, the INSEAD network was of great value during the job search to receive overall guidance and mentorship, get first-hand insights about different industries, geographies and companies, and receive tips on the application process.

Lastly, being surrounded by so many really smart and ambitious people was not just a great source of motivation, but also the perfect opportunity to support each other along the whole job search process.

What was the impact of the Career Development Centre (CDC) on your professional development?

The CDC was a great source of support for me along the way.

First, the sessions with my career coach really helped me to figure out which career would suit best to my goals and values. Second, all the events organised by the CDC were a great opportunity to get in touch with people from different companies and expand one’s network. One of those events even led to a job offer in Australia for me a few months later.

Lastly, all the support I’ve received from my career coach during and even after the application process was amazing. From fine-tuning my CV and cover letter, to preparing for interviews, all the way to deciding on the best offer to take, my career coach always had my back.