Florian Vielhaber

Emory University, Goizueta Business School

“Global-minded leader who loves bringing people together to create lasting impact across business and society.”

Hometown: Arnsberg, Germany

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am fascinated by Asian cultures, though I can’t eat spicy food.

Undergraduate School and Major: Business Administration – Management in Commerce, Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University Mosbach (including an exchange semester at Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: EGGER Group, Business Development Manager

What makes Atlanta such a great place to earn an MBA? Atlanta is a place where people from many countries and cultures come together, not only at the university but across the whole city. It is a major economic hub with global players across many industries. Atlanta’s entrepreneurial spirit and diversity are exactly what I need to grow as a global-minded professional. Feeling at home in Atlanta means feeling at home in the world. Also, I appreciate Atlanta’s green surroundings and the well-known Beltline – a perfect place for outdoor activities.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Emory Goizueta’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? For me, leadership development was a key factor that set Goizueta apart from other MBA programs. Goizueta’s three-pillar approach – academic, experiential, and reflective – really stood out to me. I was especially drawn to the fact that leadership is not only taught in the classroom but also practiced in real-life situations and reinforced through reflection. With the range of courses and leadership opportunities offered, the program prepares me not just to understand leadership, but to apply it in practice. That was exactly what I was seeking.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Emory Goizueta? The Goizueta General Management & Operations Club excites me the most because it brings people together from diverse backgrounds to connect general management with operational excellence. Its mix of collaboration, experiential learning, and community-building is especially appealing to me. It reflects the kind of people-oriented approach to business I value, while also connecting well with my interest in leadership development and cross-functional work.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: At EGGER, I strategically built up a new customer segment from scratch: the shipbuilding industry. What began as a complex strategic project developed into an international growth initiative with rising relevance across markets from China through Europe to North America. Over three years, we increased marketing investments and achieved a significant increase in product placements. The biggest success, however, was achieving this together with colleagues across countries, which showed me what strong cross-border teamwork can accomplish. Within just a few years, EGGER became a well-established brand and supplier for decorative surfaces in the global shipbuilding industry.

Looking ahead two years, what would make your Emory MBA experience a success? For me, the Emory MBA would be a success if it gives me three things: a complete business toolkit that allows me to manage an organization effectively, stronger leadership skills that are cross-cultural and people-oriented, and a broader perspective shaped by living abroad and being part of an international community.

© Copyright 2026 Poets&Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets&Quants, please submit your request HERE.