When I started my Master’s programme, I set five learning goals for myself: preparing for a consulting career, improving my interview skills, strengthening my Python and data analytics capabilities, expanding my professional network, and developing a more consultancy oriented way of thinking. Looking back, those goals gave me a clear sense of direction, even though things did not always go exactly as planned.
One of the biggest things I learned about myself is that I learn best by applying knowledge in practice. Simply studying theory is not enough for me. I need to use it before it truly becomes part of my way of thinking. Rather than keeping my studies and my work separate, I continuously looked for opportunities to connect them. Whether I was working on dashboards, ERP improvements, automation projects, or AI applications, I treated each project as an opportunity to apply what I was learning to a real organizational challenge. That approach helped the theory come alive in a way that reading alone never could.
My Python development is a good example of this. When I started the programme, my knowledge was still fairly limited. My original plan was to improve by completing courses, but I soon realized that building real solutions suited my learning style much better. Developing API integrations, reporting tools, and automations challenged me to learn quickly because every project had a practical purpose. Along the way, I also learned an important lesson: technology only creates value when it solves a problem that actually matters to the people using it.
The interviewing process during my thesis was another important learning experience. Although I had already developed basic interviewing skills during my pre Master’s programme, conducting eleven interviews with experienced professionals took those skills to a much higher level. The first interviews required careful preparation and a fair amount of concentration, but over time I became much more confident. I stopped focusing so much on asking the next question and started listening more carefully to what participants were really saying. That helped me ask better follow up questions and have more natural professional conversations. These are skills I know I will continue to use throughout my career.
The biggest change, however, was in the way I approach problems. Earlier in my career, I often focused on finding a technical solution as quickly as possible. Throughout this programme, I learned to slow down and first understand what is actually happening. I now spend much more time analysing the process, identifying the root cause, understanding stakeholder perspectives, and considering different alternatives before deciding on a solution. Changing that way of thinking has probably been the most valuable lesson of the entire programme.
That shift is what I mean when I talk about developing a consultancy mindset. I used to think consultancy was mainly about providing answers. Today, I see it as understanding complex situations, asking better questions, involving the right people, and designing solutions that create lasting value instead of only solving the immediate problem.
Not every learning goal was achieved exactly as I had planned. I attended fewer networking events than I originally intended. However, I built valuable professional relationships through my thesis, project work, and conversations with experienced professionals. This taught me an important lesson: personal development rarely follows the plan you make at the beginning. Some of the most valuable learning experiences came from opportunities I had not anticipated.
When I started this Master’s programme, I saw myself as someone who enjoyed technology and improving processes. That is still true, but the way I see my role has changed. Today, I want to help organizations solve complex business problems by combining technology with a strong understanding of people, processes, and organizational change. That shift in perspective is, more than anything else, the most valuable outcome of my Master’s programme and forms the foundation of the professional I aspire to become.