DCLead Track: TECMAN
BSc: Bachelor in Information Management
Worked as: Digital Communicator

I have chosen DCLead because:
You cannot live your life without communicating and if you do not know how to do it digitally, your voice will never be heard. Professionally, my work always involved communicating through different digital mediums be it color, designs, words, stills or audio-visuals and I look forward to excel in this field. What better way can I find than this inter-disciplinary DCLead program to explore and learn what I love doing and someday lead it?

Sebika ThapaNepal

DCLead Track: TECMAN
BSc: Computer Engineering
Worked as: CEO of my own educational consultancy, Interpretation Specialist, IT Support Technician, Salesman.

I have chosen DCLead because:
The highly developed educational approach combined with the great reputation of the universities at the DCLead program will not just provide me with a solid up-to-date knowledge required to be among the top digital communication students in the world, but also will take my meta-skills to the next level; the leadership skills required in management, the communication skills needed in presentations and problem addressing, and the interpersonal skills required in teamwork and customer relationship.
DCLead will nurture the entrepreneurial spirit within my soul and encourage me to apply new ideas by empowering my practical skills and thus help me carve my future career in a more healthy, goal-oriented style.

Abdallah TahaLebanon

DCLead Track: POLINN
BA: Communication Studies – Advertising
Worked as: Digital Marketing Manager at Medela Indonesia, Copywriter at Dentsu Strat

I have chosen DCLead because:
I’ve found out that information overload and misinformation become major challenges in the current digital society. How can we fight this? Therefore, I believe the answer can be found by taking a master degree in DCLead. Compared to another the program, DCLead offers a holistic approach to the digital communications issue from the academic perspective with practical knowledge and skills. More importantly, the extensive partnership with academic and industry partners will be beneficial to broaden my network around the globe.

Darwin Boy SxanderIndonesia

DCLead Track: POLINN
BA: Communication Science at Paris Lodron University of Salzburg
Worked as: Advertising agency project manager

I have chosen DCLead because:
The programme teaches us to ask questions and not simply to provide answers. In addition to critical awareness, DCLead focuses on the innovative aspect which is, for instance, concerned with the governance of state-of-the-art technologies. On top of that, DCLead creates a place where beginning experts from different digital backgrounds all over the world come together, exchange knowledge, and develop a deeper understanding for each other’s culture and respective market. These ethical and social competences will prepare us for leading positions in an international digital environment.

Valerie Eveline SteinkoglerAustria

DCLead Track: POLINN
BSc: Development Communication, University of the Philippines Los Baños
Worked as: Communication and Engagement Officer, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine – Department of Health, Philippines

I have chosen DCLead because:
I believe in the power of digital communication for social innovation and development. The multidisciplinary design of this programme, which combines social, political, and technological dimensions of digital communication, provides the perfect avenue to improve my critical thinking skills in creating development-oriented solutions while mastering the platform of this era. Learning with international students and with mobility in more than two European countries is also an opportunity to gain intercultural insights that would enable us to academically navigate an increasingly globalized society while becoming better leaders of our time.

Joyce Anne QuintoPhilippine

DCLead Track: TECMAN
BSc: Information Technology from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Indonesia
Worked as: Digital product designer with people manager experience at Traveloka

I have chosen DCLead because:
Are we designing the right thing? In a fast-moving world where digital technology is harnessed and designed to better our lives, innovation emerges to transform our lives at a faster rate. Having designed for millions of Indonesians and witnessing the impact take shape within just a few years has personally made me realize the rapid transformative impact of digital technology. However, as we rush to design technology to better our lives, our inseparable interactions with it turns back on us and designs us—collectively shaping our future. DCLead gives me the opportunity to reflect and criticize upon this phenomenon from the many perspectives of the people, the technology, the business aspects, and how it all comes together along with its ethical and social implications. The holistic and well-rounded view provided by this program complements my interdisciplinary background of technology, design, and leadership—making DCLead a valuable addition that I need to help me in designing the right thing for our future.

Reza Arkan PartadiredjaIndonesia

DCLead Track: POLINN
BA: Journalism and Communications (Print), Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.
MA: Journalism and Communications, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.
Worked as: Research Coordinator, UNESCO Ethiopia; Lecturer, Addis Ababa University; Visiting Lecturer, Haramaya University and Kotebe Metropolitan University; Researcher; Trainer

I have chosen DCLead because:
I want to be a leader in the management of overarching issues that our society is facing today due to the (unethical and irresponsible) use of digital communication, and thereby advocate for a meaningful, ethical, and socially responsible use of such tools in a manner that brings about positive societal changes. As I am well experienced in working in the academia, I also want to engage in digital media literacy education and advocate for policies that ensure digital equality.
To this end, I cannot think of any other program than DCLead that well equips me with a firm understanding and practical skills of the development of digital communication, the interplay between society and digital communication, and digital media and communication policies. The fact that it is interdisciplinary and focuses on international perspectives with an emphasis on ethical and social dimensions of digital communication makes DCLead a perfect choice as far as my future goals are concerned.

Dagim Afework MekonnenEthiopia

DCLead Track: TECMAN
BSc: Computer Science – FESB Split, Bachelor Thesis – EPFL at Immersive Interaction Group
MSc: Data Science (EIT Digital double degree with minor in Innovation & Entrepreneurship) – TU/e and KTH, Master Thesis – MIT at Senseable City Lab
Worked as: Data Scientist at Ericsson, Data Analyst teaching assistant at TU Eindhoven, Data Visualization Specialist at MIT SCL

I have chosen DCLead because:
Being a digital innovator is the future of leadership and requires a highly competitive mindset that crosses boundaries of both technical knowledge and business competencies. This programme offers an opportunity for creative individuals interested in all aspects of digital transformation to kick-start their global influence and truly change the game through innovation management, policy-making and technological convergence. All of this is amplified by having international colleagues and cross-continental academic collaboration.

Davor LjubenkovCroatia

DCLead Track: POLINN
BA: International Studies
MA: Political Communication
Worked as: Spokesperson to the Mayor of Cape Town, Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Cape Town, Head of Innovation and Digital inclusion for the City of Cape Town.

I have chosen DCLead because:
It is an opportunity to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to lead digital change management initiatives across the globe. This is developed through the mobility aspect encouraged by programme, as well as working together with the other DC Leaders who represent so many nationalities.

Pierrinne LeukesSouth Africa

DCLead Track: POLINN
BA: Public Relations, Sofia University, Bulgaria 
Worked as: Accredited Parliamentary Assistant at the European Parliament 

I have chosen DCLead because:
Politics is lagging behind technological progress and so is our society as a whole. This creates a demand for experts with in-depth understanding of ICT innovations and know-how in the socio-institutional sphere who are able to mediate between stakeholders in order to secure a better tomorrow. With its top-notch interdisciplinary academic approach and international point of view, DCLead will equip me with the right tools and skills to become a future leader in digital communication.

Yoana KanchevBulgaria