Maximilian L. Diederichs, ESCP Business School MBA Class of 2027
Age: 29
Hometown: Bonn, Germany
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany (First State Examination in Law, specialization: German and European Corporate Law); Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi, Milan, Italy (Master of Laws (LL.M.) in European Business and Social Law)
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Law Clerk, Higher Regional Court of Munich (2 years), qualified as a lawyer in Germany specialized in Business Law; Law Clerk, Corporate M&A, Bird & Bird LLP, Munich, Germany (~1 year); Founder and Co-CEO of a small wine merchant company specialized in premium rosé wines, Munich, Germany (3 years)
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
After qualifying as a lawyer, I wanted to pursue my goal of transitioning into a more commercial role within the private markets and M&A industry. Attending business school will help me gain the knowledge and expertise to bring credibility and reliability to this next step. Combined with the legal mindset and problem-solving skills from my previous experience, the finance, accounting, and leadership knowledge I gain here will be a valuable addition to my skillset.
Why did you choose ESCP Business School? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
The ESCP MBA has two Company Consultancy Projects built into its curriculum, which uniquely positions it to provide real industry exposure and practical application of the skills I am acquiring. Combined with its small cohort, ESCP offers a personalized and strong support system that will help me make the right next steps. As a proud European, I was also drawn to a school with a genuinely European, multi-campus model, which fits the sustainable, cross-border career I want to build.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2027?
Coming from the German legal education system gives me a skillset of analytical and precise thinking. During my past experiences, this meant catching contractual and structural details that others often moved past, the kind of precision that matters in complex transactions. I hope to bring this same rigor to case discussions and project work with my cohort.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I played basketball at junior national league level during school and was a playing coach of my school’s team, occasionally stepping in to teach the sport classes myself while being a student in them. Sport has stayed part of my life since, and these days I compete in triathlons.
Post-MBA career interests:
My post-MBA career goals are focused on Private Capital Advisory in London, advising GPs and LPs on secondaries, fund restructurings, and capital raising. This fast-paced and evolving industry brings together my interest in M&A processes, Private Equity stakeholders, and complex legal and financial structures. I believe my legal background and my personality position me well to contribute in this field and help clients navigate and succeed in their investment processes.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
During my application process, I screened various schools and programs for the ideal fit. Despite not completely ignoring the published school rankings, I mostly focused on my personal goals and analyzed each program’s differentiating proposition, rather than choosing based on rankings alone.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Alongside my ESCP application, I was also applying to a few secondary options. Since every application carries its own requirements and costs, I should have focused on secondary options with similar requirements, such as GMAT and language tests, rather than spreading across programs with different criteria.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could, and what helped you get through it?
If I could, I would have skipped the parallel effort of managing several secondary applications with differing requirements. What helped me get through it was trusting the personal connection I had built with my point of contact at ESCP, which gave me the confidence to focus my energy there rather than spreading it thinly across multiple processes.
What is your initial impression of the ESCP students/culture/community?
The students and culture at ESCP presented themselves as a humble, supportive community with a diverse range of backgrounds and opportunities to explore.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
European Society: As a proud European, I hope to promote the idea of solidarity and help foster an open environment to connect with everyone interested in European humanitarian values.
ESCP HEC Finance Club: With my ambition to pursue a career in finance after my MBA, the Finance Club is a place where I hope to find like-minded people and the opportunity to share experiences, attend events, and build a supporting network I can contribute to now and in the future.
Deliscep: Deliscep is a community of food enthusiasts exploring community and food in Paris. As a passionate cook and wine enthusiast, this is the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded people outside the business and school context.
What is one thing you have learned about ESCP that has surprised you?
ESCP places a very high value on its culture of innovation, integration, and building a humanitarian, beneficial future, and everyone I have met so far represents these values with genuine pride. This mindset is motivating and inspiring.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am excited to broaden my horizons across business, finance, and culture, and I hope to experience a year of personal and professional growth. If I had to name one specific goal, it would be learning to combine legal and business acumen.
