Patrick Bub

University of Virginia, Darden School of Business

“Passionate soccer and aviation enthusiast who cares deeply about people.”

Hometown: Hamburg, Germany

Fun Fact About Yourself: I can recite all the Harry Potter films – both in English and German!

Undergraduate School and Major: HafenCity University Hamburg, Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Project lead Joint Venture Management

What makes the case method so attractive as a means to learn and become a better manager? In the case method, you need to be constantly on your feet, listening carefully to be equipped to contribute. This approach challenges you to learn consider others’ opinions carefully and to addresses them thoughtfully. Sitting in a room with 70+ individuals and discussing a case also means your opinion will be challenged all the time, and you must be ready for that and consider every angle of the situation to come to the best solution.

Aside from cases and classmates, what was the key part of Virginia Darden’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I sought out a general management program that would provide me with the right toolkit to become an effective leader today and into the future. My undergrad degree is not in economics or business, so I looked for a program where I could build up a strong foundation while also making significant strides forward in my career and becoming an effective leader. Darden offers plenty of opportunities to develop and refine your own leadership style, either through courses, such as Leading Teams in the beginning of the program, or through its structure with Learning Teams, Sections and Clubs, in which you are constantly interacting with other people and apply your different style.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at Virginia Darden? This one is easy: it is the Darden Soccer Club and the Sport, Media & Entertainment Club. I have been playing and following soccer my entire life. Just being able to continue that at Darden is an invaluable part of the experience!

What are your early impressions of Charlottesville? Charlottesville is a very walkable city; you can easily get from North Grounds (where Darden is located) to UVA’s main Grounds beyond. Furthermore, the city is extremely livable with a lot of green spaces, but also any amenities you might wish for (retailers, restaurants, fast food, clubs and bars). You have everything you need, but don’t experience the hustle of a big city!

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest achievement has been leading the commercial stream in an airline foundation (Lufthansa City Airlines) and helping this airline literally take off by designing the processes to make the airline sustainably profitable. Being responsible for setting up this new airline with aviation authorities, implementing sales, networking, managing revenue and distribution processes, and working closely together with the financial teams was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2027? Why? I am particularly good at bringing the right people at the right time together to develop the solutions needed. Throughout my entire professional career, I always knew who to contact in my network for a specific topic and how we could together leverage our mutual knowledge and experience.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Virginia Darden’s MBA program? I truly believe that there is no secret to gain admission. While it is especially true for Darden is that your test scores need to show your qualification, it is much more important to communicate what you will bring to the class beyond your test scores. I would highlight the following three ingredients for a successful application:

1. Talk to the admissions team at Darden – they are probably the most approachable and supportive admissions team there is.

2. Think about why Darden might be a great fit for you. Is the case method the right choice for you?

3. Tell your story! What will you bring to the class and how might this enrich the discussion in class?

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