2024 Best & Brightest MBA: Moritz Fath, Esade Business School by: Jeff Schmitt on May 03, 2024 | 575 Views May 3, 2024 Copy Link Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email Share on LinkedIn Share on WhatsApp Share on Reddit Moritz Fath ESADE Business School “Compassionate and competitive individual, trying to contribute to the well-being and success of the people around me.” Hometown: Haslach, Germany Fun fact about yourself: I have saved multiple people from drowning, including my own cousin. Undergraduate School and Degree: International Business and Economics, The George Washington University, (Washington DC) Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Healthcare Strategy Partners GmbH, Munich, Germany Where did you intern during the summer of 2023? Simon-Kucher & Partners, Berlin, Germany Where will you be working after graduation? ThyssenKrupp Management Consulting, Essen, Germany Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: 1) VP of Strategy, Sports Business Club: This role included the planning and execution of industry expert panel discussions, a career fair, sports tournaments for students, and guest speaker presentations. With my experience in professional sports, I could help the board and members of the sports business club to get more familiar with the industry while also expanding on my own knowledge. 2) Organizer of the 2023 MBAT (MBA Tournament in Paris, hosted by HEC) for Esade. I decided to take on this role because I have seen in the past how sporting events can unite people and bring joy to communities. I wanted to make sure that the MBAT did just that for our Esade MBA community. My role included organizing teams for different sports, hotel room allocations, collecting payments, getting uniform jerseys printed, helpng with the organization of transportation, and answering questions (all while managing the expectations and meeting preferences of the 80 participants). The outcome was amazing, seeing the joy on people’s faces during the 4 days in Paris and all the stories afterwards made all the effort more than worthwhile. It really strengthened our cohort’s spirit and created new bonds for life. 3) Swim Instructor: During my time at business school, I was volunteering and helping out at the Barcelona Swim Club. I was giving swimming lessons to kids contributing to their water safety. It brought me immense joy seeing kids fully trust me in the water and then learning to trust themselves when jumping into a pool themselves. 4) Woman’s MBA Team Football Coach: For the first year of business school, I was organizing and coaching the women’s MBA football team for at least one practice per week. I was very happy to spend one night of the week doing this because seeing the improvement week over week alongside with the gratitude for me giving my time was truly rewarding. 5) Leadership Scholarship Recipient Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? For both micro and macroeconomics, I made it my goal to not only get a good grade for myself, but rather help other people achieve their goals and overcome their struggles with the subject. When I started to help others with the class materials and practicing for the exams, I quickly realized that solving problems myself is very different to explaining how to approach and solve a problem to other people. I am proud of growing into this role teaching while showing patience and understanding while finding ways to explain economic theorems and their practical applications to individuals with different learning styles. The results of the peers I was tutoring showed that my teaching approach was a good one and of that I am prouder than my own outstanding exam grade. What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? When I was a professional athlete, I tried to reach every swimmer’s ultimate goal: The Olympic Games. After training hard for most of my life – but especially the first COVID season 2020-2021, which was plagued by cancelled competitions and lonely practices – it was finally time to show what all the work was good for and race and the Olympic qualification. But it came differently. I was tested positive for COVID-19 four days prior to the competition and had to stay in quarantine for 14 days. This meant I would also miss the back-up qualification, ultimately erasing my chances of qualifying. Failure is always a probable option when pursuing a big goal but having the chance to even try to qualify taken away from me was truly devastating. What I am most proud of is how I managed to get myself out of this depressive moment to end my professional sports career on my own terms. Five months after this infection, I raced at the Swimming World Cup in Berlin, reaching three personal best times and finished 12th place in the 400m freestyle. Now I could retire from the sport that has shaped my life so much on a high note. Reaching that point and not giving in to despair is what I am proud of and what shaped my character to help me persevere in many situations working in consulting when facing challenging situations and obstacles. Why did you choose this business school? The main reason for me to join Esade was the collaborative spirit that all the students and faculty embrace. In my opinion, that is really special and stands out from other business schools. People are always willing to help and lift up their peers, looking out for each other and learning from each other. Besides that, I loved the set-up of the MBA campus, which really contributed to a great learning and social environment. The entrepreneurial focus was a great pull for me as well, as I wish to start my own venture in a couple of years. Barcelona being the vibrant, culturally rich and fun city that it is was the cherry on top for me. Who was your favorite MBA professor? I really enjoyed my finance class with Gloria Batllori. She managed to make people interested in finance and encourage everyone to participate. She would not rest until truly everyone understood what she was teaching while always bringing a great attitude with the right balance of humor, cleverness and personality that got me engaged. What was your favorite course as an MBA? Advanced communication with a focus on crisis communication was really fun. I liked the interactive nature and small class size, while the professor constantly got everyone engaged and out of their comfort zone. I learned a lot about myself and about the topic. What is the biggest myth about your school? The biggest myth is that the Esade cohorts are like a big family. After almost 2 years with my peers and some experiences at other universities, I can confirm that it is true. We work together very closely and get to know each other very well on a personal level, creating a special bond for life. What did you love most about your business school’s town? Barcelona is one of the most amazing cities I have lived in. Besides the climate and its natural as well as architectural beauty, Barcelona always has something to offer. Celebrating cultural festivities, music festivals, food markets, art exhibitions or sporting events, the city is always alive and the people in it are happy. What surprised you the most about business school? Esade is very flexible with every individual‘s learning objectives and is willing to try to accommodate everyone’s preferences. Feedback is taken very seriously and is incorporated as quickly as possible. This gave me the feeling of being heard and that professors and program management really care about each and every one of us and our success. What is one thing you did during the application process that gave you an edge at the school you chose? Besides my regular preparation, I put a lot of time into researching the people I knew who would be interviewing me. This made it easier for me to connect with the interviewers and ask the right questions. Which MBA classmate do you most admire? This is a really tough question as we have so many incredible individuals in our program. If I have to choose one, it would be Delfina Benoit. She manages to connect with people very easily and people around her always seem to flourish under her presence. She manages her time and energy very well, allowing her to excel in the classroom while working remotely and still finding time for herself and her friends. Her strength to stay true to her beliefs and principles while making the world around her a better place is truly admirable. What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? Start my own venture. Become an angel investor. What made Moritz such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024? “Moritz Fath embodies the essence of an exceptional MBA candidate, rocking the perfect combination of brains, personal growth, and a serious dedication to being awesome. His journey shows he’s all about leveling up and has seen it all, from hitting the books at The George Washington University to taking on the business world. What makes Moritz stand out is his knack for turning challenges into opportunities. Whether acing tough courses, starting his own consulting business, or flexing his analytical muscles in the corporate world, Moritz is all about getting better every day. But it’s not just about the academic hustle – Moritz has also transformed personally. From being on the quiet side to being all about taking the lead, he’s shown he’s ready to step out of his comfort zone and make real connections. Moritz’s cultural liveliness, shaped by experiences across Germany, Australia, and the United States, enriched the diversity of the Esade MBA community. Moritz isn’t just about grades and career moves; his values are solid. He’s all about integrity, hard work, and empathy – values that vibe perfectly with Esade’s ethos. As a natural leader and team player, Moritz brought some healthy competition and inspiration to the Esade learning scene. Moritz secured both his internship and full-time job with minimal assistance from the career services. Taking full ownership of the process, he assumed responsibility and successfully orchestrated the outcomes. However, in terms of his aspirations, Moritz isn’t just looking out for himself. He’s got a passion for saving the planet, like teaming up with scientists to tackle microplastic pollution. His interests, from sports to music to environmental action, show he’s a well-rounded individual who has brought a lot of flavor to the Esade experience. Facing challenges head-on, navigating different cultures, and always sticking to his values – Moritz is the real “Best and Brightest” among MBA students. In a nutshell, Moritz Fath is the epitome of excellence, innovation, and leadership that sets him apart as one of the top MBA students. His journey so far, rooted in academic excellence, combined with his commitment to doing things right, global engagement, and making positive changes, has left a mark on the Esade community. I’m all in for Moritz, and I’m confident he’ll keep lifting our institution to new heights. With Moritz in the mix, get ready for a transformative ride full of learning, teamwork, and making a real impact.” Kathrin Liesenberg Admissions Department DON’T MISS: THE 100 BEST & BRIGHTEST MBAs: CLASS OF 2024