Sebastian Schulte

IMD Business School

“Architect turned consultant, passionate about entrepreneurship and sustainable strategies.”

Hometown: Krefeld, Germany

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have lived in all three major language regions of Switzerland, Ticino (Italian), Zurich (German) and Lausanne (French) but never for longer than a year so far.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Stuttgart, Germany, Architecture.

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Project Leader

What has been the best part of being in a small class with this group of classmates? The best part of being in the small class is the level of understanding and support we have in the class. One of our guest speakers during a class trip to Silicon Valley summarized this quite aptly, saying that the level of trust among our group is exceptional. This is tremendous in all situations: it supports our learning, and the way we show up around third parties and is the foundation of many strong friendships.

Aside from classmates, what part of IMD’s MBA programming led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I would like to mention three additional points here: First, the program is only one year and condenses a lot of the learning and experiences. Second, the focus on entrepreneurship was a key consideration for me and has fully met expectations through this year’s venture award and the many visits and startup cases. Third, the location is of course fantastic, and we put together a great skiing team during the winter.

IMD is known for its academic rigor. What is one strategy you used that would help a future IMD MBA better adapt to the workload early on? Prioritize, prioritize, and prioritize. The workload can be intense, so make sure you know for yourself what is important to you. This is true between the different coursework but also any private or social commitments.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest achievement was the successful transition from my education as an architect to a leadership role at BCG. Immersing myself in a completely different discipline with its own jargon and implicit knowledge was very challenging initially and was further complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic. I spent my first weeks working from home instead of with the team and clients. Learning the ropes took a lot of commitment, perseverance, and trust in my capabilities as well as the support of some of the key team members and team leaders. Once this was all in place, the role allowed me to experience many different industries in a fast-paced environment and fulfilled most of my expectations.

Describe your biggest accomplishment at IMD so far: Putting myself forward in the IMD Venture Award. Based on an initial idea by my co-participant Xiaolong, we presented a pitch for a payments startup with the ambition to connect multiple mobile payment services across geographies. I am very proud of our successful teamwork, during which we were able to constructively “fight out” disputes and drive for the best possible presentation. This is especially true as it was tough to prioritize the preparation over coursework, exams, and commitments outside of the MBA. Even though Xiaolong and I did not qualify for the next round, I am proud to have participated in a great presentation that combined both of our talents and abilities.

Where is your favorite hang-out in Lausanne? Why do you (and your classmates) gravitate there? This may be a repeat mention, but I am a huge fan of Lacustre at the lakeside. It has an amazing location overlooking Lac Leman, offers great pizzas, and is a regular spot for a party on a Wednesday.

What has been your best memory at IMD thus far? One of the greatest memories was this year’s venture award, an annual award, where MBA students can compete for CHF 100,000 in funding combined with mentoring support, for their startup idea. Our year produced 20 projects across a wide range of topics, from women’s health to sustainability. It was truly inspiring to see the energy and creativity in our cohort – great things will come.

What do you hope to do after graduation? I will return to BCG, which supported me for my MBA, and work from the Switzerland office in the role of project leader. I’m looking forward to employing my learnings from IMD at BCG, especially around leadership and teamwork.