Cultivating Sustainable Solutions in Entrepreneurship through Innovation & Technology
Céline Marie Sandmaier (MET’23)
MS, Administrative Studies; Concentration, Innovation and Technology
This interview was originally published in fall 2023. Céline is now a Fellow at McKinsey & Company.
What motivated you to earn your master’s degree at this point? Why did you choose to fulfill your goal at Metropolitan College?
During my bachelor’s studies I had opted for a double degree program in which I completed two degrees in two countries—Germany and France. During this time, I got to know students from all over the world, specialized in two different subjects, and experienced two different systems of teaching. For me, this was an invaluable experience, both academically and personally. Consequently, I immediately wanted to deep-dive into both specializations and continue studying in multiple countries.Metropolitan College offered a well-structured double degree program with my university in Germany, during which I could continue to learn about both data science and entrepreneurship. Having always wanted to live and study in the international city of Boston, Boston University was an obvious choice.
At MET, your graduate degree concentration was “Innovation & Technology.” What do you find most fascinating about that field? Do you have a particular focus within the broader subject?
From the start of my studies, I was fascinated by the topic of “innovation and technology.” It teaches students to actively look for opportunities, question the status quo, test different options, and create new solutions and ventures. This way of thinking is valuable both in business and life.
As a member of the global student social entrepreneurship initiative Enactus, I have been particularly invested in social entrepreneurship as a means to solve our world’s problems through profitable ventures. Besides innovation for social and environmental causes, I am also specializing in the role of upcoming technologies in the field of sustainability. I am currently working on my master’s thesis in the field of sustainable mobility and I am planning to work on consulting projects in the same sector.
Congratulations on your high achievement in the Administrative Studies, Innovation & Technology program, and your Award for Excellence in your studies! Looking back, what do you consider to be the main ingredients of your success?
Thank you very much! My time at Boston University was truly invaluable and has exceeded all of my previous expectations. A key factor for this was the care and support of my professors and program coordinator. The professors at Metropolitan College took the time to get to know each student and were always open to give feedback and advice. Talking openly about any questions and concerns with my professors and getting recognition for my work has given me confidence and guidance in my studies.
Beyond this, I have chosen my specialization as well as each elective according to my long-term interests. The master’s in Administrative Studies Innovation & Technology specialization gave me the chance to pursue my topics of focus in an academic context. Truly caring about each class motivated me to go beyond the requirements and dive deeper into the subjects.
How were you able to successfully balance your studies with your commitments outside the classroom?
At BU, I had the chance to be welcomed into wonderful student groups. As a singer in the Marsh Chapel Choir, I sung twice a week and took part in concerts. In parallel, Metropolitan College brought together international students outside the classroom to introduce us to American culture. From trips to museums to sports, I tried to make the most of my time outside of class for an enriching overall experience in the USA.
For this reason, I established routines and detailed time-planning to ensure I met every deadline and found time to focus on my schoolwork. Learning to prioritize tasks was an important lesson to structure my schedule. Finally, particularly for group work, we communicated our availability and capabilities in advance and always left a buffer for the unexpected. Overall, this allowed me to balance a full academic experience with my commitments and experiences outside the classroom.
Was your success in the program driven by a particular outcome—such as professional advancement, educational achievement, personal satisfaction, or something else?
When opting for the concentration in Innovation & Technology, my aim was to understand the US perspective on entrepreneurship, as well as familiarize myself with the tools necessary to become an innovator. Additionally, I wanted to get to know topics for further research during a PhD program or industry research. With this in mind, I chose my classes in direct relation to both my academic and professional paths.
Beyond the academic and professional motivation to explore my fields of interest, studying abroad also presented a unique opportunity for personal growth. My aim was to make the most of my time in the US, both inside and outside of class. For this reason, I participated in conferences, took every opportunity to ask many questions, and sought advice from professors.
As a part of an overall experience, the program contributed to my academic and professional future as well as personal growth. This awareness changed my approach to classes to go beyond the curriculum and connect the dots between experiences and lessons.
Is there a particular course or project that enhanced your experience in the Administrative Studies, Innovation & Technology program? Please explain.
For me, The Innovation Process: Developing New Products and Services (MET AD 741) and Planning and Operating New Ventures (MET AD 740) were core foundations for every entrepreneur. Over two semesters, we could work on one business idea in detail and get an idea of the process of founding and developing a company. This experience made the overall process more graspable and showed a realistic path for founders. In addition, Project Management (MET AD 642) and Innovative Marketing Techniques (MET AD 737) were both highly practical and applied. Working with different software and simulations was highly valuable for the professional world. Finally, International Business Law and Regulation (MET MG 550) was a great introduction to US business law in relation to global law, particularly as an international student.
Can you share any examples of skills, principles, or practices learned in the program that you were concurrently able to apply to your job?
My program at Metropolitan College was highly diverse and involved a lot of team projects. Working and communicating in international teams is highly relevant to my future job, which I could practice in this environment. Beyond the professional context, the intercultural toolset is also valuable in life.
In addition to intercultural skills, projects in class taught me to manage deadlines and break down larger tasks into smaller packages, both of which are of use for my job. The curriculum also gave me skills in new software and programming languages such as MS Projects, R, and Google Analytics.
Finally, the innovation core courses focused on showing us how to test assumptions in a structured and scientific manner and work with data. Conducting experiments and learning to formulate recommendations for actions from data is a final important lesson for my professional future.
What’s next for you? If you are changing roles, moving on to a new career, or receiving any kind of promotion, we would love to hear about it. Would you say that your program helped prepare you for the next phase of your life/career/education?
As a double degree student, I am currently finishing my thesis for my Master of Science in Business Intelligence & Data Science in Munich. I have chosen the topic of sustainable mobility and will focus on different resources and technologies replacing crude oil. After finishing my German master’s degree, I will start working for McKinsey & Company Munich in January 2024, preferably on projects focusing on the future of mobility.
The MSAS Concentration in Innovation & Technology prepared me for my work with innovative and technology-oriented companies. It gave me the skillset and theoretical background needed and prepared me for more research in the form of a PhD. More than that, however, it gave me an invaluable set of soft skills, cultural knowledge, and international experience to prepare me for this next exciting chapter.
You were recognized by faculty and peers for your hard work and dedication to the Administrative Studies, Innovation & Technology program. What “words of advice” or encouragement have served as a guiding principle, or simply inspiration, for you? Any words of wisdom you would like to pass along to students starting in the program?
My guiding principle at BU was to let myself be led by my own curiosity and interests to find my passions. With intrinsic motivation and genuine interest, it is easy to go beyond the requirements and deep dive into topics.
In addition to this, I would advise everyone to talk to their professors and colleagues in class, ask for advice, and exchange tips. Where help is needed at Metropolitan College, it will always be given. Finally, make the most of your time at Boston University. Participate in student events, become part of student groups, and discover the university and city around you. And, most of all, enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience in this international community!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Particularly as a student coming from abroad, I could not be more grateful for the warm welcome and the support I have experienced during my time at Metropolitan College. My program has made it easy to integrate into Boston University and become part of an incredible international community. I am honored by the Award for Excellence and I would like to thank all of my professors and friends at Metropolitan College for their support.