Mari-Elen Sonderling
“Through my previous internship and my family business, I saw first-hand that even the best product or service fails if it doesn’t have a meaningful story. So I wanted a study programme that didn't just teach me how to ‘make content’, but how to use media as a strategic tool to build communities and solve actual business problems. This master’s was the right fit for that.”
Busy but rewarding
“Right now, the programme schedule is busy but rewarding! I’ve just wrapped up a pretty intense first semester, which was a deep dive into consumer psychology. I’m also doing a part-time internship where I’ve been able to see these theories in action immediately. It’s been amazing to take a concept I learned in a morning lecture and apply it to a real-world task that same afternoon.”
Strategic content
“The biggest shift for me, has been the Design Thinking process. Coming from the fast-paced world of real estate, family business, and my previous studies with a research university, I’m used to jumping straight to solutions. Design Thinking is a completely new mindset for me. It’s about slowing down and really 'living' with the problem first. It’s a challenge I’m still getting used to, but it’s incredibly rewarding to see how it leads to much deeper, more strategic content. So far, I improved my design and strategic skills, and developed a lot more critical thinking and cross-cultural communication skills.”
Goals for the future
“Ultimately, my goal is to launch my own marketing agency one day. I want to reshape how people perceive marketing by moving away from 'noise' and focusing on creating meaningful content that makes a difference.”