I Used My MBA To Reach Senior Leadership At An International Media Giant

With an English Literature degree under her belt, New Jersey native Pamela Taylor was on track to pursue an editorial career in publishing. 

Until a serendipitous move to Germany and a change of career led her to begin an MBA. Today, Pamela has reached senior leadership at the world-renowned media company Bertelsmann and its notorious subsidiary, Penguin Random House.

BusinessBecause caught up with Pamela to find out more about her career journey.

From the US to an MBA in Germany

Pamela (pictured right) began her career in a trade publishing role in Massachusetts when she realized that working with people was where she would thrive. However, the 2008 global financial crisis led to widespread job cuts, and Pamela decided to redirect her career.

“My job and 30% of other people’s jobs no longer existed in that company, which in retrospect, I'm very thankful for. I need to be around people, and that's not productive when you're supposed to be editing all day,” Pamela says.

When love brought Pamela to Munich, she decided to try her hand in an e-commerce company, until the company downsized.

“I just kept thinking, I keep getting laid off. I realized that in Germany—if you want to do business, you study business.”

Determined to establish a business career in Germany, Pamela sought a degree that would prepare her for success in the industry. 

She aimed for a program that offered a solid foundation in business fundamentals and a strong professional network, leading her to pursue an MBA at HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, the oldest business school in the country.

“I wanted to set up a foundation for my life in Germany, and a strong foundation for my life involves a strong foundation for my career, so I became very intent on studying a business degree in Germany,” she says.

Building a professional network at business school

To build a people-oriented career in business—especially in a new country—a strong network goes a long way. For Pamela, an MBA helped her lay the groundwork.

“I knew I wanted to study business and build a network—HHL was the perfect university for me in that sense,” Pamela says.

At HHL, she found a close-knit community of MBA, master’s, and PhD students from over 55 countries, complemented by an active alumni network. The small, interactive classes and the opportunity to connect with students from various programs were particularly valuable.

“On the one hand, I had this great international experience in my class, and on the other hand, it was such a small campus that I got to know the people in the master's programs, and build an amazing network in Germany,” she says.

Through her MBA network, Pamela gained diverse perspectives that were crucial for her career growth. These interactions helped her understand her strengths and interests, which guided her career decisions and professional development.

“Those different perspectives really helped me understand what I was and wasn’t talented in, and where I want to make a contribution,” she says.

Pamela adds that the benefits of her business school network continue beyond graduation. 

HHL’s alumni association (HHLAA) connects more than 3,700 active alumni, professors and faculty through events and activities worldwide. The strength of this network was a key motivator in Pamela’s decision to study at HHL, and today, she serves on the HHLAA board.

“The alumni association is a great place for me to get a fresh take on things. While I’m very happy at Bertelsmann, I also love learning about developments happening outside of my industry and function. The alumni network is a great way to snoop around the economy! Likewise, the HHL alumni network has always been relevant to me since I live in Germany, and that's why I continue to invest in it to maintain its value,” she says.

Reflecting on her MBA experience, Pamela highlights the value of learning the local language. While the HHL MBA is taught in English, she aimed to remain in Germany long-term, and therefore worked to achieve C1 level proficiency (a level just shy of native fluency) before she started her MBA.

“Learning German fluently has been integral to my professional success. English skills are useful for international business, but being able to interact in the local language has been critical,” says Pamela.

Landing an MBA internship

An MBA offers an array of opportunities, but it’s up to you to make the most of them. As an expat trying to establish herself in a new country, Pamela had to make strategic choices.

“I would have learned a lot on a semester abroad, but my goal was to get my foot in the door in a long-term career. An internship in Germany was going to help me achieve that, not leaving the country,” says Pamela.

Luckily, one internship shaped the trajectory of Pamela’s career. During Bertelsmann’s presentation at HHL, she recognized an opportunity. As a media company interested in international profiles, Pamela took the initiative to approach the company representative about an internship.

“I knew I wanted to get into strategic HR, so I reached out and indicated that I would love to do an internship in talent management. I was then offered a position at the corporate center as an intern,” she says.

Climbing the corporate ladder: from an internship to senior leadership

Much like getting accepted to an MBA, securing an internship is only the first step. Turning these opportunities into career-launching experiences requires strategy and hard work. 

Pamela leveraged her internal networking experience at HHL to advance her career. During her internship, she was made aware that her team wasn’t looking to hire anyone, but intra-company networking landed Pamela a full-time position in a different team at Bertelsmann.

“I networked in the company, which resulted in me meeting somebody from the employer branding team who was looking to expand his team, and I was able to start full time after my internship,” she says.

Once Pamela secured her first full-time position in the company, her drive and enthusiasm propelled her rise to senior vice president of corporate Employer Branding at Bertelsmann and more recently, since January 2024, she's expanded her focus to director of People Development and Transformation at Penguin Random House Verlagsgruppe.

“I loved the projects that I was working on, and I was always hungry to try something new. One opportunity led to another, until I was offered the chance to lead the team. It’s really special to start as an intern and now be a leader in a renowned media company,” she concludes.