Mei Chi Lo

Mei Chi Lo is from Hong Kong and studied the MBA in International Marketing at IU (formerly known as IUBH), graduating in 2018. Her start-up company, Booka Local, is a digital platform for internationals to find a helping local hand in Berlin. For more details, visit www.booka-local.com. From my native Hong Kong, I came to IU with a few German classes under my belt, and ended up founding a start-up to help other expats in Berlin.

Clear communication

I have always been international in spirit, so when it came time to pursue my postgraduate education I was eager to do it in a new country. Having taken a few semesters of German language classes at home in Hong Kong, I decided to give Germany a try. During my search for the right university for me, IU (formerly known as IUBH) stood out thanks to how quickly and clearly they communicated everything I needed to know, from the course contents to the details of the visa application process. I was even able to do the first semester remotely while still working in Hong Kong – that sealed the deal for me, and so it was time for me to start my MBA in International Marketing!

Professors with industry experience

At IU (formerly known as IUBH), the quality of the faculty made the biggest impression on me. My professors were outstanding, providing well-planned and interactive lectures from a perspective of strong industry expertise. I found my remote semester and subsequent on-campus semesters to each have their own advantages: flexibility on the one hand, the opportunity to enjoy the international campus atmosphere on the other. Not only that, but the programme itself was very useful to me after I graduated and took on a role with a German real estate company, working in a variety of marketing disciplines. IU (formerly known as IUBH) really equipped me with all the essentials for formulating strategies and visions for the marketing campaigns.

Keeping it local

After working in that position for three years, I decided to strike out on my own and kick-start my own business challenge! The result is Booka Local, founded in October 2020. My experience as an international student in Berlin made me realise that all us expats need a little help sometimes in navigating the various bureaucratic processes and so on. With Booka Local, internationals can book German-speaking helpers for assistance with tasks like paperwork, attending appointments as interpreters, and so on. It’s like Uber, but instead of a taxi you get a helpful local on the way to you! My hope is that Booka Local can take some of the pressure off internationals like me in Berlin, so we can concentrate on enjoying our time in this fantastic city.