Sarah Kneisle, ALM ’26

I worked full time as an SEO Manager in Germany throughout the entire program, so my studies happened in the evenings, on weekends, and during vacations. There were many nights when I closed my laptop after work only to open it again for an assignment. What saved me was connecting my coursework to my job wherever I could. I used my own company as a real-world case in several courses, which made studying feel less like a second job and more like part of my professional growth.

Traveling to Cambridge was one of my highlights on this journey. Meeting classmates from all over the world made me feel like a real part of the Harvard community. It wasn’t always easy, but I learned that consistency matters more than perfection.

My background is in digital marketing and SEO, but I’ve always been drawn to the people side of organizations. Studying Industrial-Organizational Psychology gave me the scientific foundation to turn that interest into a real direction. I approach change processes and team dynamics much more deliberately, and I understand the human side of organizational decisions in a way I didn’t before.

Looking ahead, this degree is my bridge into people, culture, and organizational development. Before Harvard Extension School, that was a vague idea. Now it’s a concrete plan, and I can speak the language of both business and psychology.

The biggest lesson was realizing I’m capable of much more than I once believed. One moment that pushed me was leading a group case study discussion in one of my management courses. Facilitating a debate with professionals from completely different industries and backgrounds, in my second language, was intimidating at first. But it taught me that I can hold my own in a room full of smart people, and that my perspective adds value.

There were semesters where everything collided at once: work deadlines, coursework, travel, personal challenges. Getting through those stretches taught me resilience and discipline. At some point, I stopped asking myself whether I could do it and started focusing on how I would make it happen.

One turning point came when I realized I no longer felt intimidated by the Harvard name. At the beginning, I honestly wondered whether I belonged here. Over time, through every class, every project, every conversation with classmates and professors, I understood that everyone was there because they earned their place. Including me.

The second moment was graduation in Cambridge. Standing in Harvard Yard made the whole journey feel real in a way that late-night study sessions never did. Somewhere along the way I stopped seeing myself as a marketing person interested in psychology and started seeing myself as an I-O practitioner. That shift changed how I think about my future, and it gave me the confidence to actively pursue the next chapter of my career.

There were moments when people questioned whether this journey was realistic or worth pursuing. Finishing the program, next to a full-time job and in a second language, reminded me that other people’s doubts don’t define what’s possible. It’s proof to myself that I can commit to something demanding over several years and see it through at a high level.

Of course, the Harvard name opens doors. But the real meaning is personal. My curiosity about how people and organizations work turned into a qualification I can build a future on. And I hope my story encourages others who wonder whether ambitious goals are possible alongside work and everything else life brings. They absolutely are.

Empowering.