Julius Niehaus, Stanford GSB MBA Class of 2021
Age: 24
Hometown: Düsseldorf, Germany
Undergraduate Institution and Major: International Business, Cooperative State University Baden-Württemberg
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 3 years post-graduate work experience at Mercedes-Benz/Daimler in Corporate Venture Capital and Corporate Development; prior to that, 3 years pre-graduation rotational program during undergraduate studies
Why business school? Why now?
After having spent 6 years with the same organization I felt it was time for a change. I felt that my learning curve was not as steep as when I started my first job. In addition, I was in my comfort zone for too long and wanted to expose myself to new challenges.
From a professional point of view, I wanted to gain different experiences in the field I am passionate about: the mobility industry. While I gained deep industry insights at Mercedes, I also aspired to examine the topic from different perspectives—GSB seemed to be just the perfect option to do so.
Being strategic about timing was also very important to me. I decided to start my MBA early in my career because I personally had the feeling that the next career move might have kept me from doing an MBA. Beyond that, I believe in autonomous driving and want to be equipped with my MBA before autonomous vehicles “hit the road.”
Why Stanford? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I “filtered” the different business schools based on a number of must-have criteria (course offering, extracurricular offering, industry focus, location, etc.). Stanford stood out to me right in the beginning because of the opportunity to complement my MBA with a Joint Degree in a technical field.
Having assembled my shortlist, I visited a number of schools and looked at what was really the most important factor for me: “vibe” of the school and personal fit. In Stanford, I felt incredibly welcome right from the beginning. I got the chance to visit a TALK and was struck by how much students were reflected in it. Itis also the little things that make Stanford’s culture as special as it is. As an enthusiastic cook, I especially liked the idea of the Small Group Dinner’s at Stanford.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2021?
I want to share my passion for changes in the mobility industry that will ultimately affect all of us. Beyond that, in the classroom setting, I intend to share my experiences and learnings from having worked in a large manufacturing company.
From a more personal perspective, I love to share my passion for cooking and food. It brings people together at the same table and offers a great opportunity to get to know my classmates better.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
I had some unusual hobbies in my life. I did competitive fishing for a couple of years and briefly joined a bodybuilding team.
Post-MBA career interests?
I am most passionate about mobility (particularly autonomous driving) and venture capital. I would like to combine these two interests post-MBA and leverage my existing experience in corporate VC and in multiple mobility segments. Therefore, my post-GSB goal is to join a Venture Capital fund focused on mobility and transportation investments. Potentially, I will also join an early-stage start-up in the field or establish my own company.
That being said, the MBA is about exploration. While I personally feel that having a hypothesis is very beneficial, I want to stay as open as possible towards new opportunities.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Start early! I got the GMAT out of the way as early as possible so that I could focus on the fun part: “soul searching.” I reflected a lot on what I wanted both personally and professionally without the pressure of having to work on my applications. I really enjoyed this process.
–One thing you would change or do differently?
Working on applications in addition to a full-time job and extracurriculars can be emotionally draining. On top of this comes the insecurity regarding the outcome of the process (“Will I move to a different continent next year or not?”). It can be very easy to become too immersed in this process. I personally did not always find a good balance between the requirements of this demanding time and important personal relationships. I strongly advise everyone who embarks on this journey to be aware of that challenge.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Like many, I would have skipped the GMAT. I had to take the GMAT again because of a process error, requiring me to study over Christmas and New Year’s – a time that I would have rather liked to spend in a different way. It was my family and especially my partner that helped me through this frustrating time.
What is your initial impression of Stanford’s students/culture/community?
Stanford is inspiring. This is the best word to describe the culture here. I have always been amazed by the drive of people to work on something big. While slogans do not always hold true, the GSB’s “Change lives. Change organizations. Change the world.” is definitely an accurate description of the mindset of my classmates.
One thing you have learned about Stanford that has surprised you?
I thought a lot about this one. There is not a lot about Stanford that has really surprised me. I visited the GSB before and talked to many alumni, students, and even lecturers before to get an accurate idea of how Stanford is like.
One thing that has (positively!) surprised me is the number of resources GSB students can make use of on the greater Stanford campus. While the GSB’s daily offering (events, brown bag lunches, talks, etc.) can easily fill 5 days, I also enjoy learning from people in different study programs.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I am most anxious about not knowing exactly how to spend my time most effectively. I am still trying to figure out the best balance between being focused and open towards things that may come my way. One of the great things about Stanford is serendipity and I definitely want to give it a chance.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Beyond the obvious, meeting an incredible group of 420 amazing classmates, I feel incredibly privileged to be at a point in my life where I am presented with the widest range of career and life choices I could imagine.
