Lyaysan Sharipova - MBA Student From Russia
Yana Immis
Originally from Russia, from the Republic of Bashkortostan, she went to Germany to study abroad. Now she works at a Japanese company in Munich as a Partner Business Sales Manager Europe with a bright future ahead of her! See how a country girl became the senior manager in the fashion industry - read Lyaysan’s success story here.
| Place of Birth | Russia |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Russian by passport. I identify myself as Bashkir! |
| Where did you live? | Ufa (Republic of Bashkortostan), Munich(Germany) |
| Education Level Prior to Relocation | Bachelor |
| Reason of moving to Germany | MBA |
| When did you move? | 2010 |
| How old were you? | 22 |
| Are you still in Germany? | Yes |
| What is your future goal? | Career |
Chapter 1: Russia
I come from a simple family, we never had the financing possibility for private universities or for studying abroad. I studied all my life with a 100% GPA until my dream came true.
I was studying for two Bachelor’s degrees parallel in Russia:
International Relations
Criminal Justice
Exciting, isn’t it?
The moment I heard info about studying abroad from my friends, classmates, my family, I felt that was the right path for me! I also heard about the Study Abroad Grant in my republic for young professionals.
Is that universe giving me signs? And I was like Oh!
That gotta be a sign, let me do everything to make it happen!
I forgot to mention my English skills were weak at that moment. The main prerequisite was to have an IELTS. Well, a small challenge on the way to success, I thought. Let’s improve my English in a few months!
I started learning the language and prayed. I visualized in my mind a picture of me receiving it and that I would make it. And I did make it! I got fully funded to study abroad! I qualified because I worked hard, learnt the language and also with a bit of luck!
Always be proud of where you are coming from and of who you are! That defines your future and don’t forget to work hard. Study hard. Party hard.
I had no time to think. I had the money and I had to go abroad. I found an MBA program (1 year long) in Munich to study in English and off I went. Bye Russia! Hello Germany!
Advice to students: do proper research before moving. I was not ready! Neither with languages nor with bureaucracy. Take your time with everything.
Chapter 2: Germany
I arrived and started studying… but first let me tell you this: I was walking for hours! I have not been to Europe before (only the USA). Munich is so beautiful - I was looking at buildings and streets accepting the reality: I AM IN GERMANY HURRAY!!!
I wanted to enjoy a year doing my MBA abroad, it would be a super year, it would be a great year I thought. And hey, it was exactly how I imagined it or even better!!!
… after the first lesson though, my professor told me that I would fail the course, the semester, and the university because my English skills were weak. That was a great wake up call! How did I manage that? Goodbye social life, hello studying!
I was working hard (again) to improve my C’s D’s and F’s to 100% GPA in the last semester (yay!). I AM BACK!
I loved studying in Europe: group works, my super international classmates, smooth communication, presentations, no theoretical learning but rather hands-on. So different and so cool! You become bulletproof for the future work in Europe. The studies are structured so well that you start believing in yourself after all the subjects you learn.
THANK YOU to everyone who carried me on their backs to help me pass semesters. AMEN!
Negatives? Some professors were hell. Very professional but literally enjoying when students suffer from the workload. There was one particular professor I remember… I will never forget that. I will never…
I finished my MBA then I moved back to Russia to finish my 2nd degree there as well, worked there a bit but couldn’t wait to return!
Job seeking visa is there for a reason – don’t waste time – search for a job asap! I got a visa for 3 years right away Yay! (everything is so subjective in the immigration office in Germany).
MBA is tough but what is tougher is to combine new friendships, parties, German language learning, and searching for a job. One moment I realized it was too much: party, new people, I needed to start and to focus on myself. And this is how my work life started.
Chapter 3: Bullet-Proof Future
How do you achieve it?
ТРУД УПОРСТВО ЦЕЛЕУСТРЕМЛЕННОСТЬ!
HARD-WORK, PERSISTENCE, WELL DEFINED PURPOSE
The main reason why I was searching for a job is to get work experience in Europe on my CV. I didn’t have any long-term intentions there. How I approached it?
I asked everyone I knew: classmates, friends, professors, and started early morning every day applying to all jobs possible!
I think I sent my CV out for 3 months straight!
The whole experience was really hard, you think you are not good enough or you are even being told that you lack creativity. It is really hard to hear things like that when you are young and vulnerable. When you are a grown-up with years and years of work experience it doesn’t feel so bad. The world changed upside down.
The moment I was about to give up I got a job. I was really close to returning to Russia forever. I got invited for an in-face interview. When I arrived there, it was the smoothest job interview in my life! I got hired right away for a trainee position in International Marketing & Product Planning department.
I remember my marketing lessons from the MBA class. That’s the time I developed a passion for the fashion industry and marketing and, consequently, marketing in the fashion industry.
Actually, I remember back then… when I was sending my CV out I fell in love with their website and thought it would be great to be a part of their team…
Charmant Group is a Japanese-based company with a European head office in Munich - it is so exciting: many colleagues are from Japan. My job offer was exactly what I wished for! I was hungry to learn and I worked my ass off.
They hired me for 3 months and they passed by in 1 day for me. After 3 months I asked to extend my contract. Fashion industry sales cycles are way longer than 3 months. I insisted that they hire me for a year. They allowed me to stay! A year in a Japanese company what a dream!
Russian & English were the languages they were interested in. One of my first bosses was Japanese and was very very strict. He was pushing me to the limits, correcting me, and explaining everything in detail to me. Now looking back I am very thankful to him because of all the knowledge. He really made me work. I gained a lot of experience.
You need to learn that in Europe you must ASK for things (salary, extension etc) but you need to be READY TO ASK WITH FACTS. You must know how you can add value to the company!
I really wanted to stay, but I didn’t know I would stay there for a year or more…
…surprisingly, they offered me a full-time position…
Now, I have been with them for the last 8 years and I have been promoted 5 times! Trainee -> Sales Manager. Thanks to my international relations and business degrees I can understand cross-cultural issues and travel around the globe offering fashion products with my company. I had an opportunity to work with people from different countries like Japan, Netherlands, Belgium, UK, Germany, France. :) Globalization at its best!
Thanks to my company I was sent to Japan already twice on a business trip! I love Japan!!!
Finding a job is easy in comparison to the retention rates in Germany at the workplace. You must show your worth, you must make sure you excel at what you do and that you are continuously learning. Otherwise, you will be gone fast!
I would never want to leave Munich just like that.
Social security is so much better here.
COVID19 situation? Look at how a Japanese company based in Munich takes care of you.
Company? My company supports me and provides everything for distance working.
D-R-E-A-M.
I can already change my residence permit to a German passport.
I am waiting to make a decision so that I can travel to Russia without problems. If you get the German passport you must cancel the Russian one and it could create many complications back home.
P.S. Bahij, Ainur, Sofia, Edgar, Osanna, Vladimir, Irina, Karolina, Alexey, Simon – all of my classmates achieved what they wanted. Some are in Switzerland, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Austria, Russia, Spain – if you want to stay in Germany – you will stay. If you don’t – you won’t. The universe opens doors to those who picture it and aim for it (just like I did with my grant).
The best of luck to all the foreign students in their adventure!
It can be the best time of your life!
