“I was really impressed by all the possibilities open to graduates of the SIMC program”

Christina Mayr, Head of Business Development, Westwing

I already discovered my passion for bringing innovative ideas to life during my bachelor’s program at the Vienna University of Business and Economics. In 2010, I was then part of the first SIMC intake and I immediately knew that this program was a perfect fit for me. The combination of strategic topics in an entrepreneurial setting is what makes this program unique.

After 2 intense years with SIMC in Vienna and Montreal, I was really impressed by all the opportunities open to graduates of the SIMC master’s program. In 2012, I started to work as a business development manager at Hugo Boss in Germany and I could immediately use all the skills I learned during my time at SIMC. My performance was also appreciated by top management, so they sent me to Hong Kong for 2 years to work on market development for them. After 2 exciting, but also challenging years, I decided that it was time for me to come back to Europe.

With the entrepreneurial mindset I had developed during my master’s, I knew that I wanted to work in a faster-paced environment. After completing my yoga teacher training in Bali, I applied for positions in startups and started to work for Westwing in July 2016. The work atmosphere here reminds me a lot of SIMC – I feel like I am working on innovative growth initiatives with friends. A year later, I was promoted to Head of Business Development, and I am now leading a team of 14 people. I am incredibly thankful for everything the SIMC program taught me and can only recommend this program to anyone who is interested in working with smart, ambitious, and international peers on complex problems and innovative solutions.