Beatriz Rodriguez is wearing a white shirt and smiles into the camera.

“I Want to Tell My Story Because I Really Appreciate the Multicultural Environment at the University of Mannheim and Hope That Other Students Can Benefit from It as Much as I Did.”

Beatriz Larouco Maciel Rodrigues is 25 years old, half Brazilian, half Portuguese and grew up in a small town near Rio de Janeiro. After she completed a bachelor’s program in Business Administration, she came to the University of Mannheim to pursue the Mannheim Master in Management (MMM) program. Alongside her studies, she works at UBS in Frankfurt in the field of asset management with a focus on sustainability. In her myUniMA story Beatriz tealks about what it is like to split her life between Frankfurt and Mannheim and how she perceives the atmosphere at the university.

Tell us a little about yourself: Where did you live before you came to Germany?

I actually wanted to move to Germany to pursue a bachelor’s degree but my Brazilian school leaving certificate was not recognized here. So, I studied in Brazil before I was able to study in Germany. Fortunately, I was still able to experience life in Germany during my bachelor’s degree, as I spent a year abroad at the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management. Since then, I wanted to study in Germany again and so I applied for the Mannheim Master in Management (MMM) program. I also spent time abroad during my time at school: I completed a summer school in France and went to school in Switzerland for a year and a half. I also started a study program in the US, but I realized relatively quickly that everyday life as an American student wasn't for me. So, I've been on the road quite a lot in recent years.

What made you decide to spend a year abroad and now to pursue your master's degree in Germany rather than in another country?

First, these were personal reasons. My boyfriend is from Germany. We met while he did an exchange program in Brazil and that's when I decided to come to Germany with him. In theory, I could study anywhere in Germany, but I had always been interested in the financial sector. Frankfurt was therefore the perfect place for my year abroad. For the master’s program, however, I wanted to come to Mannheim. I first heard about the University of Mannheim during my bachelor's program in Brazil, as both universities are part of the International Business Education Alliance (IBEA). Some of my friends came to Mannheim as part of the IBEA program, which allows them to study in four different countries. I heard that the university is very prestigious and known for its international environment. I chose the University of Mannheim because the Frankfurt School was very similar to my bachelor's program in Brazil, and I really wanted to see something new. Now I'm studying here and working for a bank in Frankfurt – that's the perfect combination for me.

How do you feel about the international atmosphere at the University of Mannheim?

At the University of Mannheim and in my degree program, there are many people with different perspectives and backgrounds. I find the atmosphere here incredibly supportive and vibrant, whereas in Frankfurt most students rush straight back to work. I want to tell my story because I really appreciate the multicultural environment at the University of Mannheim and hope that other students can benefit from it as much as I did. I have made many friends here at the university from different countries who have also moved to Mannheim to study. Another highlight for me was the “International Dinner”, organized by the Erasmus Student Network and the International Office, where you prepare food from different countries together. On the other hand, I am also of the opinion that you automatically get to know students from abroad if you are an international student yourself. I am also currently attending some courses as part of the European university Engage.EU. I really enjoy it and it gives me the opportunity to exchange ideas with people from other countries.

Your job in Frankfurt focuses on sustainability. How long have you been interested in this topic?

I have already been involved in two research projects on sustainability and wrote my bachelor's thesis on Environmental Social Governance (ESG) and Mergers & Acquisitions. I also helped with a few smaller publications at the Chair of Sustainable Business. So, I have been interested in this topic for quite some time. In my current job as a working student at UBS, I am responsible for asset management with a focus on sustainability. This includes various things, from investment options to compliance with guidelines and how we as a bank deal with our supervisory bodies. We are also partly responsible for the strategic management of the bank, for example: What are our goals or standards? How do we want to develop further as a bank?

What are the differences between life and life as a student in Germany and Brazil? Is there something that you miss?

Personally, I did not experience a culture shock, since I spent some time at a school in Switzerland and the cultural differences between the two countries are not too big. I am still amazed at the punctuality and seriousness of Germans. I miss the sea the most, especially water sports like sailing. Sometimes I feel like a fish that has been taken out of the water (laughs). I am really happy at the University of Mannheim. I like that there is a real campus. This is something I missed during my last program. However, my bachelor’s program was more practice-oriented, we had more group work, for example. We almost exclusively have to take exams, which I think is a bit of a shame. In general, studying in Brazil is more informal, which you can tell from the fact that we call our professors by their first name or sometimes get a coffee together. It is also not common to have several internships or part-time jobs as a student.

What are your plans after graduating? Are you thinking of moving back to Brazil?

Next year, I want to have more time to myself and my studies, which is why I am going to take a break from work. After graduation, I would like to continue to work for a bank. Moving to another country is also an option I consider.

Interview: Pascale Tamburini / October 2024