Inspiring India

During the Management Graduate Programme, Burda trainees work on a wide variety of projects in various locations, some of them abroad. In “Trainee talk”, they report on their experiences during this time:

My ten weeks with Burda in India were ten of the best weeks of my life, filled with wonderful people, a previously unknown (to me) absence of rules, fantastic food, train journeys that last for hours, unbelievable social differences; colours, smells, sounds, cows, dirt, dust, stink, noise and beauty.

Setting aside German notions

My time as a Management Graduate Trainee in India showed me that for some time now, our Asian publishers and holdings have been even more active than Germany in event management and business with third revenue streams. The aim is to generate and profit from databases by bringing advertisers into personal contact with their target groups. My trainee period in New Delhi, or rather Gurgaon near Delhi, showed what this means in practice. I was assigned to the marketing team for “Child” magazine, who were in the process of organising a four-city “fashion show for pregnant moms”.

After one week, I was ready to jump on the next flight to Germany. I realised how broadly “organisation” can be defined, and quickly learned to abandon my German perceptions if I wanted to work successfully with my Indian colleagues. I did, however, also notice the unique team spirit displayed by all, be they an intern, departmental manager or director. And the event in Mumbai was a complete success! “The client is very satisfied...” The hard work and sleepless nights had paid off.

Different countries, different customs

Outside work, I travelled as much as possible and explored Delhi. I look back on my amazingly nice and helpful colleagues and new friends, all of whom I miss dearly, and a city of a thousand facets that is constantly changing and that I will definitely visit again! My verdict after ten weeks? I’d do it again in a heartbeat!