ABOUT HHL

Who we are today

HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management’s history and tradition is a story of pioneering success that goes back to the 19th century. Leipzig’s entrepreneurs realized the need of educating business people to prepare them for the upcoming changes and challenges in a world becoming more globalized with its international trade. The foundation of Handelshochschule Leipzig in 1898 marks the birthplace of management education and is the first business administration faculty in German-speaking countries. Since those early days, the “honorable merchant” is recognized in the school’s emblem. Eugen Schmalenbach is one of the Handelshochschule first and most prominent alumni, also well-known as the founder of today’s business administration as an academic field in science and research.Throughout the 20th century Handelshochschule Leipzig again faced a time of continuous changes. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Handelshochschule Leipzig was finally re-founded in 1992 to train a new generation of business leaders – a generation who will be actively engaged to form transformation in the reunited country.

Today, HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management is a prestigious university with doctoral and habilitation rights and was the first private German Business School with AACSB accreditation. In addition, with more than 530 startups founded by HHL Alumni, our business school is the top address for entrepreneurship in Germany. Our HHL family consists of a wide variety of members from different countries, speaking multiple languages, bringing enriching backgrounds, renowned expertise, various responsibilities and diverse focuses.

Our Mission

“We educate entrepreneurial, responsible and effective business leaders through outstanding teaching, research and practice. We are driven by excellence in teaching and research to benefit our students, stakeholders and society. Our academic quality is underscored by our global outlook and a lifelong premier service and support network.”

To achieve our mission, we build on entrepreneurship and leadership, two pillars grown with HHL’s history of leading change and transformation. While entrepreneurship enables transformation, leadership is relevant to lead transformation.

Our Manifest

At HHL, we don’t just teach business. We empower you to shape it. Because you’re not here to follow a path – you’re here to create your own. Whether that’s a degree, a startup or inventing the next billion dollar idea. You will earn the knowledge, tools and resources. But more importantly, the freedom to put it into action. With people who are just as driven as you. Because we believe in growth by doing – not only by watching. So that ideas can become prototypes. Prototypes can become companies. And students can become doers. HHL is where it begins.

Now it‘s up to you – make it happen.

Where we are today

HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management looks back to a long tradition, deeply rooted in the region of Saxony while at the same time enjoying a highly international reputation. HHL is known for its mixture of innovative, international and individual approaches by students, staff, faculty and alumni.

HHL’s Executive Management