Film and Media Blog

The training and experience I gained in communication management has been instrumental in my career success

This year the Master’s Programme in Communication Management is celebrating its 10th anniversary. As part of the celebrations, we are conducting a series of interviews with our alumni to highlight their achievements and share their experiences.

communication management BFM

As I gazed through the blinds in my home, peering into the sunny horizon, the warmth of the newly arrived spring serenades my minds. The birds are perching from tree to tree, and singing along in harmony with the scent of a new season. It was just yesterday that we still had mounds of snow all over the place and as they fastly melt away, I realise that it was just like yesterday that I graduated from Tallinn University.

"Studying Communication Management at Tallinn University not only imbued me with knowledge, it also shaped and built my character."

Suddenly, the memories came flooding in. I recall the banters, the jokes, the seminars, the assignments, exams, the deadlines, and crisscrossing the sprawling university edifice to catch up with lectures - from Astra to Vita! Then COVID-19 happened. We were tucked into our homes gazing through device screens, worried, and anxious of what uncertain future lies ahead.

Alas, against all odds, we made it. I graduated in the summer of 2021, elated and proud that the unprecedented circumstances and challenges did not sway my resolve to make the best out of this opportunity. It was rather, part of the learning process and stepping stones that shaped and prepared me for future professional accomplishments.

"communication management"Studying Communication Management at Tallinn University not only imbued me with knowledge, it also shaped and built my character. It prepares one to learn, whether you are ready or not. You not only learn academic theories but also how to conduct yourself within any professional setting. You learn that even trifles like body language, silence and other forms of nonverbal communication are potent tools for being intercultural competent, especially within the workspace. You begin to understand that soft skills or virtues like empathy, kindness, politeness, respect (for other peoples’ time and space), and teamwork are not just desirable but also important factors to the success of any team and by extension any organisation.

I liked how the courses have been structured to bring out the best in any student who is willing to learn. Through an in-depth and engaging syllabus, seminars, group tasks, presentations and research, students are passed through a well-grounded programme that builds personality in knowledge and character.

Although, I personally do not work in the field of communication management now, however the learning and experiences I have garnered studying the course has been instrumental to my career success. I work in an IT/Tech company, but I still have daily interactions with clients from across the globe. I cannot quantify how my academic learnings have rubbed off positively in this regard, in terms of dexterity, emotional intelligence, environmental consciousness, communication skills (in speech and writing) and decorum in general.

Thus far, life in Estonia has been more of adapting to all the new cultural learnings. Coming from a country with a distinctly different cultural background to Estonia, there has indeed been a lot to unlearn and re-learn to make me a good fit in the social and professional environment. One good point is punctuality for which Estonians are known for as against our own “African time” where it is somewhat accepted to be late even to official functions. Aside that, I have become more technologically well informed because Estonia is a digital country and you really need to learn these things for you to comfortably get along.

I am really proud to have passed through this programme and even prouder to be an alumnus of this institution!