Maximilian Amend

ESADE Business School

“Analytical and curious, equally comfortable with ideas and people.”

Hometown: Heidelberg, Germany

Fun fact about yourself: Before committing to a business career, I explored very different paths, from volunteer firefighting to professional gaming.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Duale Hochschule Baden Württemberg, Bachelor’s in Business Administration

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Head of Controlling, Chemische Werke Kluthe GmbH

Where did you intern during the summer of 2025? Roland Berger, Munich

Where will you be working after graduation? Roland Berger, Consultant

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

Vice President for Clubs and Budget, MBA Student Association Board

Admissions Fellow supporting the admissions team and engaging with prospective candidates

Co-organizer of a Weihnachtsmarkt-themed Christmas event on campus

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I found case competitions particularly rewarding during the MBA. There was the Roland Berger competition, where we won the Esade round and went on to participate in the global finals with a leading global CEO. There was also the PE/VC competition at IESE, where we reached the finals and pitched our investment hypothesis to an investment committee and founders, stand out most. Both experiences were among the most challenging and rewarding parts of my MBA, as they combined real-life application of classroom learning, intense teamwork under pressure and great shared memories.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? One achievement I am particularly proud of is my work at my previous firm helping navigate the European chemical industry through a period of exceptional turbulence, including Covid, energy price shocks, and the Russia–Ukraine war. During this time, I saw how a traditionally slow-moving sector was forced to adapt quickly, becoming far more dynamic and complex. Being trusted with meaningful responsibility at an early stage of my career allowed me to contribute to this transformation, which I found both challenging and rewarding. It also gave me a deeper appreciation for medium-sized companies, which are often overlooked but can offer significant impact and learning opportunities.

Why did you choose this business school? Esade is genuinely more collaborative than what is often described in brochures. The global connections you build broaden your perspective and lead to real, lasting friendships. Rather than pushing students toward a narrow set of career paths, the experience encourages you to become a more well-rounded and self-aware person, prepared for a global and broadly defined career.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Ivanka Visnjic stands out for her thoughtful selection of cases, guest speakers, and interactive simulations. She managed to turn a topic like innovation, which to me had always felt somewhat intangible, into a clear and practical framework. Her classes were consistently well-prepared, rigorous, and supported by a strong teaching team with real depth. You can clearly tell how interested and invested she is in her field, and that comes through in every lecture. Even very detailed and specific questions were addressed thoroughly and often connected to the latest research. After I raised some more specific questions, her team even shared a comprehensive list of academic papers to explore the topic further, which really stood out to me.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? This is a difficult question, but Communications and Advanced Communications with Lola Martinez were probably the most influential courses for me. As a former CNN news anchor, she has a rare ability to turn even non-communications professionals into engaging communicators. The courses combine elements of theater, case studies, and intensive presenting with continuous, high-quality feedback. They act as an amplifier for the entire MBA, allowing you to present and communicate learnings from the program and prior experience in a very practical way. On a more personal note, they also opened the eyes of a very facts-focused German to the importance of how those facts are presented. I see the impact of these courses regularly, both in how I communicate professionally and in my everyday life.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? Rather than one specific event, my favorite MBA tradition was the rooftop of the Barcelona campus. You would often find students there enjoying the sun, catching up between classes, or just taking in the view. It became a simple meeting point during a busy year. I think for many in our cohort, it is a shared happy place and a memory that says a lot about the sense of community at the school.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I don’t have many regrets, as I feel I made the most of the MBA experience and the ups-and-downs are part of what shape you. If I had to choose one thing, I might have started experimenting with entrepreneurial ideas a bit earlier. That said, that’s easy to say in hindsight, especially given how intense and time-constrained the MBA can be.

What was the most impactful case study you had in business school and what was the biggest lesson you learned from it? One of the most impactful case studies for me was a negotiation exercise around a complex shipping deal, where each participant had an antagonistic role and there was only a very small zone of possible agreement. The biggest lesson I took away was the importance of meeting people as they are. Often, it is ourselves who need to adapt to others rather than expecting the opposite. This was a broader learning throughout the MBA, but this case made it particularly tangible.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? What I loved most about the town was the combination of nature and sea – you can go for beautiful hikes and be at the beach within a short time. It also has an incredibly vibrant nightlife that offers something for everyone. The weather is good for nine-to-ten months of the year too. While the city feels global, it is still walkable and not overwhelming.

What business leader do you admire most? I don’t have a single business leader I admire above all others; I tend to draw inspiration from different people for different reasons.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? AI is completely woven into the program. The school has clearly accepted that AI will be present in almost every aspect of our professional lives and encourages us to use it accordingly. I found it very helpful for getting quick, high-level overviews, while also realizing that going deeper still requires substantial independent thinking. That deeper work, however, is often enhanced by AI rather than replaced. For example, exploring business models and new ideas has become much easier.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Holly Williams is the classmate I most admire. She was my teammate, and working with her was consistently stimulating – she is extremely smart, a great sparring partner, and someone who always brings sharp thinking and useful perspective to case discussions. She is also a lot of fun to be around, and even under pressure you somehow end up laughing together. Holly is one of those people you meet during an MBA who has so many ‘wow’ stories that you occasionally start wondering what you have been doing with your own life.

What probably stands out most, though, is how she handles people and tricky situations. You can clearly see that she knows how to manage discussions when interests diverge or when things don’t go to plan. More than that, she does it in a calm and structured way that helps move things forward.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? I don’t have extremely tangible bucket-list items, but rather a few directions I strongly want to pursue. First, I would like to move into the entrepreneurial space at some point in my career — whether that means supporting founders as a consultant, starting something myself, or working in venture capital.

Second, I want to build an international career that allows me to connect people across cultures and perspectives, especially in a world that feels increasingly polarized. I genuinely believe that collaboration across borders can still make a positive difference.

What made Max such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?

”I had the pleasure of teaching Max in my Innovation course during the MBA, where he consistently distinguished himself through thoughtful engagement, intellectual curiosity, and a strong practical orientation.

From day one, Max demonstrated an approach to innovation grounded in analytical rigor and sound judgment, with a particular ability to connect conceptual frameworks to real business contexts. His contributions are always purposeful, well-prepared, and often help elevate the quality of class discussion.

Beyond academic performance, Max brings a collaborative, reliable, and generous presence to any team. He is respectful of others’ perspectives, supportive of his peers, and leads quietly through preparation and example. These qualities, together with his steady work ethic and balanced leadership style, give me confidence that he will continue to make a meaningful impact as he progresses in his career.

I am confident that he will continue to make significant contributions as he advances in his career, and I support his nomination.”

Professor Dr. Ivanka Visnjic
Operations, Innovation & Data Sciences Department
Esade Business School

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2026

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