🌍 Networking & Mentoring — The Bridges That Built My Career

Looking back on my #journey — from studying and working in #Germany, earning my #MBA at Steinbeis University Berlin, leading global marketing & communications for companies like #Kiekert, #Valeo and T-Systems and ultimately founding #PilonPR here in Detroit — one thing is very clear:

🤝 I didn’t do it alone.

At every step, #mentors opened doors and challenged me to grow. They taught me to think strategically, connect marketing with business goals and enter international markets with confidence.

And #networking — the genuine kind, built on curiosity and trust — created opportunities I could have never planned. Conversations turned into partnerships, advice became breakthroughs and new connections grew into lifelong allies.

One person in particular — a remarkable leader — had the greatest impact on my path. He knows it, even if I don’t name him here. His belief in me, his honest guidance and sometimes his tough challenges changed how I see myself and what I dared to build.

I’ve also learned something equally important: sometimes the people who challenge us the hardest — even those who don’t always wish us well — can drive the greatest #growth. The toughest lessons often become the most transformative.

Today, as the Founder & CEO of #PilonPR, I try to pay it forward — sharing what I’ve learned about cross-border communication, brand building and navigating German-American business culture.

✨ My #advice: seek out people who inspire you, stay curious and invest in authentic relationships — and don’t shy away from the tough ones. Both champions and challengers can change the course of your career.

💬 Have you had a mentor, leader or even a challenger who shaped your path? I’d love to hear your story.

#Networking #Mentorship #CareerGrowth #Leadership #MBA #GermanAmericanBusiness #CrossCulturalBusiness #SteinbeisUniversity #MarketingCommunications #InternationalPR #PilonPR #BrandStrategy