Master in Strategy and Digital Business (MSc)
Meet our alumni: Megan Schenk, Class of 2023
After a valuable year working as a consultant, Megan Schenk, a graduate of the Master in Strategy and Digital Business, felt a strong pull towards entrepreneurship. Determined to follow her instincts, she transitioned to co-founding her own hospitality venture.
With a background in business administration and experience consulting for startups, Megan joined the MSDB to gain international exposure and strengthen her expertise in digital innovation. Today, she is bringing together her interests in strategy, tech, and design to rethink how remote professionals and modern travelers experience work and leisure. Read more about what led Megan to ESCP, her time in consulting, and how these experiences have shaped her purpose-driven career path.
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Megan, and I’m from Germany. I completed my Bachelor's degree in Business Administration at the University of Applied Sciences in Leipzig, where I focused on accounting, controlling, and entrepreneurship. During my studies, I did an internship at Deloitte in the Audit & Assurance department. It didn’t take long for me to realize that my real passion lies more in entrepreneurship than in auditing.
After graduating from my Bachelor's, I worked full-time as a startup consultant for nearly a year. In that role, I collaborated with numerous founders across different industries, helping them develop and refine their business ideas. This experience further deepened my interest in entrepreneurship and innovative business models.
Tell us your thought processes when you decided to apply to the MSDB and what you felt this type of programme could add to your profile.
I was already working as a startup consultant when the idea of a Master’s degree started to grow. I was looking for three things: gaining international experience, expanding my knowledge to work on larger and more complex projects, and moving to a new city to challenge myself personally and professionally.
While I was familiar with most German business schools, I felt they lacked the international dimension I was looking for. It was important to me to work with and learn from people with diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. When I came across ESCP, the Master in Strategy and Digital Business immediately stood out to me. I was fascinated by the impact of digitalization on traditional markets and the emerging opportunities for new business models.
The MSDB programme brings together two fields that resonate strongly with my background and interests: consulting and entrepreneurship. It aligned perfectly with the work I had been doing, but offered a broader, international perspective and a more academic foundation. Since I didn’t find a comparable programme elsewhere, it was the only application I have submitted.
You're working on your own venture right now. Can you share more about it?
To be honest, I was never entirely sure what I wanted to do. I had always been curious about entrepreneurship, but I also wanted to understand the dynamics of large corporate structures. My goal was to gain a broad range of experiences before deciding on a direction.
While at ESCP, I interned at a venture capital firm, and after graduation, I joined a strategy consulting company. These experiences helped me realize that it’s not the specific industry or job title that drives me, but rather the way of working and the people I collaborate with. I discovered that I truly enjoy developing new ideas, creating efficient workflows, building structures from scratch, and working with diverse teams.
However, I couldn’t fully find this kind of environment in any of my previous roles. That’s when I knew I needed to create it myself. Fortunately, my husband shared the same vision. We both left our consulting jobs in Germany, moved to Cyprus, and co-founded our own company. Today, we're building a hospitality venture focused on high-quality, design-led villas for remote professionals and modern travelers. We’re combining tech, real estate, and guest experience to reimagine how people vacation and work abroad.
How did you find it, working in consulting?
That’s a tough question—because it was both challenging and rewarding. In many ways, it was exactly what the MSDB programme prepares you for: solving complex problems, adapting quickly, and becoming a temporary expert in unfamiliar fields. It was stressful at times, but it was exactly what I needed to strengthen my skill set. Within just one year, I worked on more than six projects across various industries, wrote client proposals, led an internal initiative on artificial intelligence, and facilitated numerous workshops. It was a steep learning curve and a valuable experience.
However, I also realized that the traditional consulting environment - with its set structures and externally defined projects - wasn’t where I thrived. While I gained a lot of experience in a short amount of time, I felt I would miss an important opportunity if I didn’t pursue my entrepreneurial spirit.
Looking back, consulting helped me put the theory I learned in the MSDB programme into real-world practice. I learned how to manage projects, sell my ideas, and approach problems within corporate structures - skills that are now essential in running my own venture.
What aspect of the MSDB curriculum did you enjoy the most?
I definitely enjoyed the modules focused on innovation and digital business - especially "Digitalisation and Society." I still remember how we were already discussing GPT-3 before it had even been released. That course gave me a fresh perspective on how emerging technologies shape our world and helped me think critically about how I want to use them in my own career.
I also loved all the hands-on elements of the programme, such as the Startup School, the Hackathon, and the Consulting Project (CCP). These courses allowed us to bring our own ideas to life and work in dynamic, real-world environments.
However, the class that has served me the most - both in consulting and in my entrepreneurial journey - was "Problem Solving and Communication," which we had right at the beginning of the programme. It gave me a structured approach to tackling complex issues and communicating clearly - skills I continue to rely on every day.
What did you work on in the Company Consultancy Project?
Our team worked with Mercedes-Benz Group Services on the question: should the company become a fully virtual organization after having operated 90% remotely due to the Covid pandemic?
We focused on the cultural and organizational implications of such a shift. That meant conducting a deep dive into the company’s structure, its corporate culture, and the evolving needs and aspirations of its employees. We interviewed team members, collaborated closely with internal stakeholders, and effectively became part of the change management team for two months.
What made the experience particularly valuable was the challenge of applying everything we had learned in previous terms in a real-world setting. The topic was broad, and the timeline was tight - which taught us how to stay focused, prioritize, and ask the right questions. I also thoroughly enjoyed the team collaboration, the late-night brainstorming sessions, and the close interaction with the client.
In the end, the CCP solidified my interest in consulting. It showed me how much I enjoy working in strategy and transformation, and it played a key role in my decision to pursue a full-time role in consulting after graduation.
What were the highlights of being a student in both Berlin and Paris?
I had always wanted to live in Berlin, not only because it offers the best startup ecosystem in Germany, but also because of its diversity, vibrant culture, and creative energy. Beyond the classroom, I found great value in the network opportunities and the dynamic atmosphere.
Paris, on the other hand, felt entirely different. I truly enjoyed immersing myself in its rich history, stunning architecture, and unique cultural charm. Studying there gave me a broader European perspective and a deeper appreciation for cross-cultural collaboration. The MSDB really benefits from this change of location. Experiencing two cities with such distinct personalities, alongside a close-knit international class, was incredibly enriching.
To what kind of person would you recommend this programme?
If you’re not sure about your exact career path but feel drawn to the dynamic world of disruptive technologies and evolving markets, this programme is a great fit. It’s designed to help you discover your strengths, refine your interests, and build adaptable skills that are valuable in a wide range of roles.
The MSDB teaches you how to navigate complexity, think critically, and align your work with your personal values. It’s ideal for someone who is open-minded, enjoys working in diverse, international teams, and has the ambition to grow both personally and professionally. If you’re eager to explore different career paths and challenge yourself in a fast-paced environment, you’ll benefit tremendously from this experience.
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