The WHU Part-Time MBA Advantage: How Working While Studying Creates Practical Value

Balancing a demanding full-time role with an academically rigorous part-time MBA is no small feat. Frosan Bariz is one of those inspired individuals, a current student in the WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management Part-Time MBA and recently promoted to Senior Marketing and Communications Manager at Deutsche Bahn. This challenge has become an essential part of her personal growth. What keeps her focused at work is not just the skills she is gaining every week, but the clarity and confidence the program provides for her future.

Right time, right place

Like many professionals at a pivotal stage in their careers, Frosan realized that advancing to the next level meant strengthening key areas of her skill set. She wanted a program that went beyond academic content. One that would challenge her to reflect and bring her long-term goals into focus. “I had been thinking about further education ever since I completed my bachelor’s degree,” she explains. “At the time, work took precedence, so I focused on my role in marketing and communication. Once I started applying for other positions internally, I found I was receiving rejections as I didn’t have enough experience in those areas. It naturally felt like it was the right time and the part-time MBA was the best way to help me clarify which way to go next in my career.”

Finding the best fit

For a professional considering an MBA, a program’s network is just as important as the curriculum. With over 7,000 alumni in the WHU community, the impact of these connections was instant for Frosan, even before she had enrolled. “Just talking to the alumni, I could already feel the effect of these conversations,” she says. “I felt welcomed from the start. I could study for an MBA anywhere, but this immediate connection to the community made WHU truly special to me. The study content of an MBA might be the same for everyone, but the network really makes the difference. Knowing that I can reach out to WHU alumni anytime is so valuable to me.”

Real impact

The MBA has already transformed the way Frosan approaches challenges at work and in her personal development. This change is visible not just in her approach but also in the day-to-day reality of her work at Deutsche Bahn. “What has influenced me most so far has been learning to tackle problems more deliberately; I am much more structured, applying learnings from case studies rather than jumping in and figuring it out as I go. 

“For example, we are working on a project at Deutsche Bahn to centralize our communications via a platform and manage tasks more strategically. I am directly applying what I learned in the MBA, particularly from the Strategy Execution elective, from asking the right questions to thinking about how it will be implemented. A program like this allows me to gain deeper insights across different functions in a way that day-to-day work alone often doesn’t.”

The leadership shift

Beyond the practical skills that the program has imparted, the MBA has prompted a more profound change within Frosan. It has encouraged her to think deeply about her own development, particularly the kind of leader she wants to become. “Before the MBA, I was more focused on ticking the boxes of a job description, but now I see how important a good leader is for your own development. We’re doing this MBA to become better leaders ourselves.”

For Frosan, she has already reaped the rewards of part-time studies. A promotion, a mindset shift, and a clearer vision for her future and career. What has made the experience truly transformative, however, is something that no syllabus can teach. “Studying at WHU is not about the degree or the knowledge you receive. It’s the people you’re sharing the journey with, those who inspire you, challenge you, and push you to grow. Being part of such a community makes the program truly unique, helping you become the leader you want to be.”