Lukas Michel

IESE Business School

“I’m a curious, positive explorer who loves pushing myself to be better every day.”

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am a big time One Piece (Japanese Manga) fan. I love to read the new chapter every week to read and talk about theories of the unsolved mysteries of the story.

Undergraduate School and Major: Cooperative State University Saxony, Environmental Engineering major.

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Global Product Owner Digital Solutions, Vaillant Group.

What makes the case method so attractive as a means to learn and become a better manager? The case method brings together diverse perspectives, especially at IESE, where people from different cultures and backgrounds approach the same business problem in very different ways. I also value how hands-on it is. Learning by doing suits me well, and the workload ensures you are constantly applying ideas in practice.

What has been your favorite part of Barcelona so far? What has made it such a great place to earn an MBA? The combination of climate, food, and overall energy of the city. Barcelona is incredibly vibrant. You can move seamlessly from great culinary experiences to sightseeing or activities like escape rooms. Add the beach in summer, great public transport, and how easy the city is to navigate, and it becomes an ideal place to do an MBA.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the one key part of the IESE Business School MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? It was the 19-month program and its strong focus on general management and people. After spending many years at the same company, I wanted the time and space to explore different paths. Just as importantly, I felt a genuinely supportive environment at every touchpoint with the school.

The IESE MBA is known for heavy reading and rigorous academics. Has the program lived up to its reputation? What advice would you give to first-years to help them thrive in the early months of the program? Yes, absolutely. My main advice is to invest early in your team. Build trust and establish a strong way of working together. Everyone struggles at some point, and having a team that supports each other makes a huge difference. It’s also important to find your balance early, whether through exercise or other ways to recharge.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at IESE? The DACH career trek. Visiting companies in Munich with fellow MBA students was a great experience, offering insights into a wide range of industries, from private equity to tech, while also strengthening connections within the group.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I took over a key product shortly after a disappointing launch that faced criticism from customers, partners, colleagues, and senior management. Two years later, we had significantly improved customer satisfaction, reflected in strong app ratings, scaled the customer base, and built a much healthier team dynamic. I am particularly proud of the change initiatives we drove to set the team up for long-term success.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far:
Coming from a non-finance background, succeeding in financial accounting, and even acing the midterm exam, was a very rewarding milestone and a strong validation of my learning progress.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? There have been many, but I particularly enjoy team dinners and section events, like going out for karaoke with my New York section (mine was clearly the best section!).

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