Stepping Outside the Comfort Zone: Hanyan Jin on Leaving Shanghai for WHU

Trading the fast pace of Shanghai, China’s largest city in population, for the quiet pace of a sleepy German town might seem like an odd choice. For Hanyan Jin, however, it’s the opportunity to reflect on her future and experience cultural immersion in a new light. The Master in International Business student tells us more about her unconventional path from studying fine art to an interest in consulting, and why she chose WHU as the starting point for her career in Europe.

“People are often shocked when I tell them I come from such a big city to the little town of Vallendar. Personally, I find it refreshing: the community here is close, everyone knows almost everyone, and it’s easy to stop and chat. Classes can be intense, so you call your friends and see if they want to cook together or hang out afterwards—no one has far to walk as everyone lives in the same area.” 

Hanyan has a positive, sunny disposition and joined the program in the fall of 2025. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in arts management, she fits the mold of many Master in International Business students, who hail from a mix of academic backgrounds and nationalities. Many hold bachelor’s degrees in design, psychology, or sports; “we all bring different perspectives to the program, so we learn a lot from each other,” says Hanyan. 

Hanyan takes that exchange of perspectives seriously. Extroverted and eager to squeeze as much from her experience at WHU as possible, she points out that just because she is an international student doesn’t mean she should shy away from integrating wherever and whenever possible. This has led her to join more than one (three in total) student clubs, including the board of Opinio – WHU Debate Society and Saidia, the student consulting group. “Being part of a student club imitates a working environment, but in a much less formal way,” she explains. “It also helps me to better understand the German working culture.”

WHU stood out to Hanyan, though, mainly because of its connections, particularly those in the consulting industry. Having experienced a difficult job search in China firsthand, she understood how the right network can make a big difference. “There are a lot of career fairs during the program, and guest speakers you can talk to directly to find out how it works in their industries or roles. I feel like that’s something so unique at WHU, to have the opportunity to talk so easily with people like that.”

Hanyan explains that traveling so far from her home was a very deliberate decision in her personal and professional growth. During an international exchange in South Korea, she was paired up with some German students and was impressed by their work ethic and academic talent. “I always wanted to study abroad, and I knew pursuing business was the next step for me. A growing job market and a high-quality education were important to me when choosing a country. But after meeting my German classmates back then, I made the decision that if I was going to do a master’s degree, it had to be in a country like that.”

For prospective students, Hanyan's advice is straightforward. Her approach: to have a clear understanding of your personal motivations and to be proactive. “Life at WHU is a journey to developing a global mindset, working with people from diverse backgrounds, and taking responsibility for your own growth. The program offers many opportunities, but you have to take the initiative to grab them. So just be bold.”

“It was important for me to have these experiences while I am young, to know what the world looks like. You can’t learn the nuances of other cultures or how to work with people with different mindsets from a book. You have to experience it for yourself. If you wait until you’re in the working world, it’s going to be too late. So why not experience it right now?”