A Place to Grow: How a Degree in Business Can Open More than Doors to Success

From dressage arenas to racetracks, Linn Bretfeld’s path to WHU is anything but typical. This multilingual student is humble yet driven, with several internships already under her belt. Now studying in the Bachelor in International Business Administration at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, she’s taking those first steps towards finding a career she loves.

Her first love is horse riding, competing internationally in dressage competitions. Wanting to find a new hobby to bring her closer to her father, she discovered an interest in motor racing, going on to work with GT3 teams in the high-stakes 24-hour races after her Abitur. “My dad took me to my first motorsport race, and I was hooked. I was fascinated by what happened behind the scenes, from strategy to the split-second decisions.” 

At one of these races, Linn took the opportunity to talk to the drivers and management teams. She learned how many of them had their own businesses and different careers outside of racing, and how a management degree could open the doors to many potential career paths. “Knowing there were so many options available just from one degree, I knew I wanted to pursue business administration.”

Leadership in action

At WHU, students can join at least one of over 30 clubs available. From supporting diversity to wine-tasting or sports, there is something for everyone. For Linn, her focus was on the big name of TEDxWHU, part of the global phenomenon that brings experts and innovative ideas to audiences worldwide.  

“Being part of the student clubs has been one of the most meaningful parts of my WHU experience. I was general manager of TEDxWHU, which meant I was head of the organization and leading a team of 17 students.” These are not small-scale events either – they are often multi-day, with external guest speakers, and hundreds of attendees. So unsurprisingly, it can become an intense process and a steep learning curve for students in the driving seat.

“Managing everything from logistics to the speakers was challenging but rewarding,” she explains. “I learned to be a leader and steer people through unexpected hurdles. It’s impressive to see how students bring such large-scale events to life, all while handling demanding academic schedules. Knowing firsthand how much work and dedication it takes, I deeply respect everyone who contributes to making these experiences possible.”

The power of people

Now that she’s in her second year and about to enter her third, what has been surprising to Linn about WHU so far? “Even in Munich, where I’m currently doing my internship, whether you’re in a café, restaurant, or walking down the street, you always run into someone from WHU.” She sees this strong sense of community in her daily life as a student. Whether it’s late-night study sessions in the Audibene student lounge or working together to ensure these big events are successful, the people around her have made the biggest impression.

“I didn’t know everyone would be so motivated when I started. But it was this collective feeling that sold me on the WHU. The program is more hands-on than I anticipated, with structured analytics and practical tools. We even put together a start-up pitch and received feedback from real investors, which was mind-blowing to me to have this direct contact with people from within the industry.”

Opening doors

This network has already opened her eyes to potential career paths. While horse riding and motorsport are still in the back of her mind as hobbies, exploring internships from across different industries has taken her down a different path, from corporate giants like L’Oréal to financial services, and now with an NGO. “You could say I am in my career exploration era,” she laughs. “I’ve realized that I’m most engaged in fast-paced and creative environments.” These experiences have exposed her to different work cultures and leadership styles, allowing her to actively reflect on where she can make the most impactful contribution. 

Whether she ends up managing global brands or running operations at the next 24-hour race, Linn is just beginning her career journey. “These internships through WHU have already given me a clearer idea of what I want to do after graduation. I want to find a role where I can keep learning and contribute to something more meaningful in the world.”