Meet Cornell Johnson’s MBA Class of 2018

Kristina Köpke

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I would say I’m not afraid to share an idea and never afraid to listen to others.

Hometown: Hamburg, Germany

Fun Fact About Yourself: Godmother of the containership MV Wieland that I christened in Shanghai, China

Undergraduate School and Major: HSBA – Hamburg School of Business Administration, B.A. in Shipping and Ship Finance

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Hapag-Lloyd Singapore – Assistant Manager Networks and Co-operations

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: It was relocating to Singapore immediately after graduation in order to build up the G6 Alliance Service Center, establishing the product, operational and financial aspects of the Alliance. Beyond living and exploring Southeast Asia, I gained the invaluable experience to work directly with the competition face-to-face and to engage with more than 10 different nationalities on a daily basis.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? The most valuable experience during the admissions process was the engagement with staff, alumni and current students, as this helped me to not only differentiate the academic aspects of each MBA program, but also to understand the different cultures each school embraces.

For the actual application process, I would suggest taking a creative and authentic approach in writing the essays and be yourself during the interview.  In terms of the GMAT, start early enough to give yourself time for thorough preparation and a second try, if necessary.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? I chose Johnson because of its amazing community, as well as the outstanding opportunity to personalize the curriculum and to take the immersion program in Strategic Operations. My contact with the staff, alumni and current students provided me with extraordinary support during the entire application process. The combination of the academic curriculum and the high focus on leadership development and collaboration will hopefully allow me to reach my long-term goals. I am hopeful my leadership skills will improve through many dedicated programs, such as the Leading Teams Practicum and Leadership Expeditions.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? Post-MBA, I plan to switch career paths to Management Consulting because I love problem-solving. I am looking for a more challenging, fast-paced environment. I believe this experience will provide me with the necessary skills to achieve my long-term goal of running a business.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program?  “Kristina was a motivated young woman and an asset in the joint study experience. She focused on finding collaborative solutions while making suggestions and listening to others. I hope that we will stay in contact both as an alum and as a friend.”