HR’s Real Role in Modern Workplaces with Heidi Strunz
As part of the MBA Guest Lecture Series at Berlin International University of Applied Sciences, we had the pleasure of hosting Heidi Strunz on May 28, 2025. The session was organized by MBA students Anaïs Aka and Bilge Ezgi Peker Ekinci, under the academic supervision of Professor Peter Mantel.
Talk Overview
Heidi shared not only her industry expertise but also her core values, insights on modern leadership, and thoughtful advice for the next generation of professionals.
The session covered several key areas:
- What “people-first” really means in practice (beyond corporate slogans)
- The difference between building culture and faking it
- HR as a strategic and human-centered partner in fast-paced environments
- Leadership traits rooted in empathy, communication, and courage
- Career advice and real-world stories from venture capital and startup life
The session ended with a vibrant Q&A, a group photo, and genuine appreciation from all participants.
Student-Led Organization
This event, part of an MBA assignment, was fully organized by Anaïs and Bilge, from logistics to moderation.
A great example of student-led learning in action.
Apply for Master of Business Administration (MBA)
A bachelor's degree is required, the field of Business Administration or a related field is preferred, however it is possible to apply with an unrelated field of study.
In addition, all applicants are required to have gained at least 1 year of full-time work experience after your bachelor's graduation. Ideally, you should have taken over managerial tasks already. If you have instead set up your own business, then proof thereof will be required.
In order to meet the 300 ECTS credit requirement for graduation with the title of ‘Master of Business Administration’, students who have completed a 3-year bachelor's degree will be accepted into the 2-year MBA program. Those who have a 4-year degree may opt for the 1 year MBA program and will have the opportunity to discuss the recommended option with the faculty during the interview.
The application process for studying a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Berlin International is simple. Through our online application portal, you can quickly and securely enter your personal information and receive a confirmation email with a link. Then you can use the link to upload the following documents:
- Official Senior High School diploma with a transcript of grades (German Abitur/Fachabitur or equivalent)
- Official University certificates and transcript of grades
- Passport
- English Language Test (CEFR level B2 or above)
- CV
- Letter of motivation
- Letter from employer confirming a minimum of 1-year continuous full-time employment
For more information, please use the menu item Admission.
Our MBA program is taught in English. We will require proof of your language skills. German knowledge is not required.
If your language skills are at CEFR Level B2 or above, one of the following currently valid language test certificates and scores can be accepted for your application:
- TOEFL ITP: 543
- TOEFL IBT: 74
- IELTS (Academic): 6.0 overall
- Cambridge FCE: B2
- PTE Academic: 59
- BI internal exam/ BAU 'English Language Proficiency Exam': 60/100
- IB Diploma: English A or B at HL or SL
- German Abitur
The score must be earned within the last two years.
If you have not completed high school in a majority-English speaking country (USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) or a bachelor's degree fully in English, an approved language exam is required in order to qualify for admission.
You are welcome to attend the internal Berlin International language proficiency exam. It will be hosted online, participation is free of charge and can be offered once an application to one of our programs has been made and admission requirements have been met.
For the dates of our next language proficiency exam, see the Language Requirements tab on our Admissions Page.
Preparatory School:
If you do not yet have CEFR level B2 English, and you meet the admission requirements to study at BI, you can sign up for our English Preparatory School.
