Can Germany Build a Harvard Business School?

Note: The following contributions are personal impulses from Max Eckel. They represent individual reflections and are intended to stimulate discussion and further thought.

Can we create a "Harvard Business School" in Germany? And why would we even want that?

Institutions like Harvard University don’t just offer world-class education—they help shape industries, influence economies, and foster a culture of excellence that draws ambitious individuals in. The biggest benefactor of HBS? The United States, where students from all over aspire to join these prestigious institutions, contribute to its business ecosystem, and often remain in the country.

Now, imagine if Germany had its own equivalent - an institution that not only offered top-tier business education but also became a global magnet for talent. The effects would be profound: a steady flow of the most ambitious students, leaders, and innovators from all over the world, all coming here to study, work, and make a difference.

This brings us to WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management… Of course, Harvard is almost 400 years old, while WHU is only 40 years old and has less than 10,000 alums. Still, WHU's community has already managed to shape at least one whole industry: the German startup scene.

Oliver and Rocket Internet SE pretty much kickstarted the Berlin startup scene. More than 10% of all disclosed venture capital in the last 10 years went into WHU startups. Only the University of Oxford has produced more founders of billion-dollar startups than WHU in Europe. But also beyond the entrepreneurial world and German borders, WHU alums have made their mark in the wider business landscape.

A perfect example of this is the picture of three fellow WHU students from the 1997 class that Philipp shared. In this picture:

• Christoph Schweizer, CEO of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), leading strategic transformations across fifty countries
• Philipp Freise, Co-Head of European Private Equity at KKR, which manages around $92 billion in assets in Europe and is reshaping whole industries, and
• Jochen Olbert, Head of Region Central Europe and General Manager Hilti Group / Germany, global champion for tools for the construction industry.

That’s just from one picture! Many more amazing individuals emerged from this small cohort of <50 students. The concentration of leadership in this class shows WHU’s remarkable ability - already then - to nurture global business leaders. Beyond individual achievements, however, what truly sets WHU apart is our community.

Like Harvard, WHU is built on a deep connection that alumni share with their alma mater. Many come back to campus, give back, and mentor the next generation, creating a cycle of growth and success. This cross-generational exchange is part of what makes WHU so unique—and what is helping us build our own legacy. So, while Harvard may have centuries of history, WHU is already proving that a "Harvard Business School" for Germany isn’t just a far-off vision. It’s something we’re actively building.

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