How my MBA helped me move from the US to Denmark

The opportunity to study and eventually work abroad is a strong draw for many students considering enrolling in an MBA. In fact, according to our latest Prospective Student Survey, 49 percent of aspiring business school students highlighted gaining access to employment abroad as a key motivation in 2026.  

For MBA graduate Katie Reynolds, her interest in studying abroad began during her undergraduate degree, when she completed a semester in Sweden. She came to appreciate the Scandinavian way of life: “I felt like I could be ambitious there, but also have a personal life,” she says. 

Later, Katie got the opportunity to leave her home in New York and live in Copenhagen for two months. It was there that she heard about the one-year MBA at Copenhagen Business School (CBS).  

Inspired during conversations with alumni, Katie enrolled in the program hoping that it would help her relocate from the US to Denmark and eventually work at a Danish company. 

What is the MBA experience like in Copenhagen?  

Having completed her undergraduate degree back in 2014, Katie was one of the oldest students in her CBS MBA cohort.  

“I think in some ways it helped me,” she says. “It’s been a long time since I’ve sat in a classroom, and I was happy that I approached it differently from my undergrad. I now know how to prioritize my time.” 

Katie found some subjects such as finance and accounting particularly challenging; however, she enjoyed the rigorous nature of the program and her workload. The school’s MBA Leadership Discovery Process was a standout feature of the curriculum, helping to challenge her perspective and develop her capabilities as a leader.  

“It helped us to reflect on our strengths and areas of improvement, pushing us outside of our comfort zones,” she says. 

Another standout aspect of the program was collaborating with classmates. With a relatively small class of around 50 students, composed of more than 25 nationalities, Katie found she learned a lot from her fellow MBAs. CBS students typically have around seven years of work experience, with many working in industries such as consulting, pharmaceuticals, technology, and supply chain logistics prior to their studies.  

“We truly had such a diverse cohort,” she says. “We had great conversations and I learned just as much from my classmates as I did from the professors. 

“I got really lucky because it was a good fit for me overall.”  

Throughout the MBA, Katie made the most of networking opportunities, building meaningful connections and personal friendships. “Trying to build a life here was my end goal,” she says, “so I spent a lot of time out of the classroom.” 

How can you turn an MBA abroad into a full-time role?  

During her degree, Katie successfully secured an MBA strategy internship at Denmark-based food analytics company FOSS, supported by CBS. She immediately made it her goal to land a job offer at the firm, taking practical steps to make this happen. 

First, she spoke with her manager to set clear expectations for what success would look like at the end of the internship. She then worked toward these goals, being proactive while taking all opportunities to get to know the team and people in other departments. “It shows you’re interested in the company and want to invest time in getting to know the business more broadly,” she says.  

While studying, Katie opted for a concentration in digitalization—one of three specializations CBS MBA students can choose from. This helped during her internship, allowing her to channel her newfound insights in AI and digital innovation into her research areas.  

Katie successfully achieved her goal: since graduating in September, she has taken on a full-time position at FOSS as a sales development manager, focusing on the North American market. The role directly leverages various skills she gained throughout her MBA, she says, particularly relationship building, using data to make decisions, and making the case as to why a project is viable. 

How can an MBA help you relocate?  

When considering pursuing an MBA, Katie believes you should have an honest conversation with yourself about what you want to get out of your program—whether that’s a job, networking connections, or moving countries or roles.  

“Whether it’s a year-long or a two-year program, it goes fast,” she says.  “Be clear with yourself about what you want to get out of it and prioritize your time accordingly.” 

For Katie, this goal was to build a life for herself in Denmark. The CBS MBA helped her do that, giving her the skills, connections, and work experience she needed to move her career—and her life—from New York to Copenhagen. 

“I’m so glad I chose the MBA route, rather than moving through a job,” she says. “It was one of the best years of my life. 

“If you’re looking to build a career and a life in a new place, an MBA is a great way to build a network and elevate yourself as a leader. I have no regrets.”