From Student Consultancy to Business School – My Master in Entrepreneurship Experience at HHL

How do you go from student consultancy to a top-tier Master’s program in entrepreneurship and consulting? In this article, Marie shares her personal journey from uniClever and the JCNetwork to studying at HHL.

My Start in Consulting

A year ago, I decided to complete my Master’s degree at HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, a private business school. My time in the JCNetwork, as well as my role as an active member of the student consultancy uniClever Potsdam e. V., significantly influenced this decision. So, in this article, I’m going to tell you how it all happened and whether my expectations were met after one semester at HHL, giving you a first-hand Master in Entrepreneurship experience.

On the orientation day for my Bachelor’s degree at the University of Potsdam, I attended a presentation by uniClever Potsdam e. V., a student consultancy. At the time, I had no idea what a management consultancy was, nor did I anticipate that this initiative would play such a significant role in my personal growth. However, during my first semester, the Junior Consultants convinced me to volunteer for the association. Shortly afterwards, I completed my first consulting project and became involved in recruiting new members. I quickly realized that I enjoyed consulting and especially appreciated the practical link to my studies, as I felt that these practical insights were often lacking in lectures.

I soon became more involved with the JCNetwork, the national organization of student consultancies, accepting the position as Head of Customer Relations and Vice Chairwoman. The year on the board was very demanding in terms of both content and time. However, I got to know some inspiring consultancies and personalities, and I also learnt a lot about myself. I used this knowledge to complete the final courses of my Bachelor’s degree after my year on the Board and additionally worked in start-ups and in consulting during this time. That is why, as well as enjoying consulting, I quickly became interested in founding companies, a combination that perfectly prepared me for the Master in Entrepreneurship experience at HHL.

Choosing the Right Master’s

Fortunately, I had gathered all these impressions and experiences by the time I had to decide what to do after graduation. It quickly became clear that I wanted to continue my studies, and I also knew what I wanted from my Master’s program:

• I wanted to learn more about start-ups.
• I wanted to expand my skillset for a career in consulting.
• I wanted courses and content with practical relevance instead of a focus on dry memorization.

I found out about the HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management through online research. I was particularly interested in the Master of Entrepreneurship program, as all of the courses sounded very interesting and practical. I was also impressed by the professors and found their practical experience extremely valuable. During my Bachelor’s program, I learnt the most from professors who had founded their own companies or were active in business on the side. Stephan Stubner, a business angel, founder of Trivago and venture capitalist, was one such professor who immediately impressed me.

I also experienced the informal interaction with staff and students at HHL events first-hand. As a student during the pandemic, it was precisely this closeness and interaction that was important to me. I didn’t want a competitive mentality at my university, but a culture of mutual support. That supportive environment plays a key role in shaping a truly meaningful Master in Entrepreneurship experience.

I could now tell you about the many other advantages of HHL that influenced my decision. These include the numerous start-ups that have emerged from the university, the various student initiatives, the many partner universities worldwide and the start-up-promoting institutions, such as SpinLab and Digital Space. However, none of these were the main influencing factors. What convinced me was the opportunity to apply and deepen my previous practical experience in courses that teach consulting-related skills and cover topics that interest me. I was also impressed by the professors, many of whom have worked at companies such as Roland Berger, McKinsey and BCG, and who understand what I really need to know and love teaching it. I was also convinced by the fact that the community at HHL is similar to those I know from the JCNetwork and uniClever.

My First Semester at HHL

I have been studying at HHL for a little over half a year now nd want to share my Master in Entrepreneurship experience. So far, I have enjoyed all of my courses, and I remember all the professors in a positive way. I have learned that consultancies often help shape course content and act as guest speakers in lectures. Examples include KPMG, Struktur Management Partner, Stern Stewart and Google.

I am currently working on two start-up ideas and will be starting an internship at a restructuring consultancy in July. HHL’s Career Service helped me with my applications. The staff review every cover letter upon request and advise on suitable job applications. I occasionally play Paddle with Stephan Stubner, our Academic Director, and some of my fellow students and I spend my free time with people from my academic year.

As you can see, all my expectations have been met — if not exceeded.

For me, HHL was the right decision, and I would make it again and again. I can’t say whether it’s the right university for you. However, if you have similar goals and wishes for your Master’s degree as I do, I would highly recommend HHL — maybe I’ll see you on campus soon!