From leading TEDx conferences in Germany to preparing for a career in global finance, Niklas has embraced the international mindset that defined his years at INTL. A member of the German Program at Silicon Valley International School (INTL) and part of the school’s second-ever graduating high school class in 2021, Niklas credits the school’s unique blend of academic rigor, cultural immersion, and creative freedom with shaping the person he is today.
After graduating from INTL, Niklas moved to Germany to attend WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in International Business Administration and Management. During his studies, he specialized in courses such as Financial Markets, Innovation Management, Negotiation, and Strategic Change, while also completing an exchange semester in Taipei, Taiwan.
His academic journey culminated in a thesis exploring how the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy influenced the growth of Silicon Valley’s technology industry between 1990 and 2020 — a topic that reflected both his international business interests and his connection to the Bay Area.
Outside the classroom, Niklas immersed himself in opportunities that combined leadership, communication, and global perspectives. In collaboration with WHU, he curated speaker lineups for multiple TEDx conferences, bringing together high-performance athletes, sustainability experts, entrepreneurs, and business leaders. He also hosted a student-run podcast featuring Fortune 500 CEOs and industry executives, creating conversations designed to help students and young professionals navigate modern career paths.
Among the guests who left a lasting impression on him were John Hennessy, Victor Peng, Marc Gebauer, and Jörn Leogrande.
“Interviewing John Hennessy showed me that the most successful people are two things: great with people, and in love with what they do,” Niklas reflected. “The fact that he sat down with a few university students from Germany and gave us an hour and a half of his time blew me away. He showed me what true leadership looks like.”
Throughout university, Niklas also gained professional experience through internships at late-stage Silicon Valley startups and later at a boutique investment bank in Berlin focused on sell-side mergers and acquisitions. There, he learned financial analysis while also helping the firm leverage AI to improve its operations.
Although he was ultimately affected by company downsizing after being offered a full-time role, Niklas describes the experience as transformative rather than discouraging.
“This path is not the one I expected to be on at all,” he said. “I never thought I would be downsized. I am thankful for the push though, as it helped me become better at embracing change.”
That mindset soon led him to a new opportunity: beginning in September 2026, Niklas will join Franklin Templeton Investments in San Mateo as an Associate while continuing to study for the CFA credential.
Despite his impressive accomplishments, Niklas consistently returns to one theme when reflecting on his journey: the impact of INTL’s international culture and teachers.
“INTL has given me the international identity I have today,” he explained. “I had the confidence to study in Germany because of INTL. I had the confidence to work in a German firm because of INTL.”
He recalls how deeply the school celebrated cultures and traditions from around the world. From Laternenfest parades and Sommerfests to Diwali celebrations, INTL created an environment where students could embrace both their own identities and the identities of others.
“I find that so beautiful,” he said. “The internationality, of course with the foundation of the rigorous and incredible IB education, has been pivotal in making me who I am.”
Niklas especially credits his middle school English teacher, Alexander Moore, for igniting his love of reading and writing. Through a weekly reading log assignment, Mr. Moore encouraged students not only to read independently, but also to reflect deeply on literature and its connection to their own lives.
“He took the time to give personalized acknowledgement of our written reflections, which is what motivated me to actually do the reading,” Niklas said. “It was a brilliant concept, and I still think about filling out my reading log to this day.”
He also fondly remembers a collaborative class project called “The School of Myths,” where students spent months building a shared fictional universe and writing their own original stories within it.
“It was the first time I deeply enjoyed creative writing,” he said. “It became the foundation for my writing skills later in high school, in university, and to this day.”
Now, after five years living abroad, Niklas is preparing to return home to the Bay Area with a broadened worldview, lifelong bilingual fluency, and a strong sense of confidence in the future.
“I came away from INTL with a profound sense of confidence in who I am and what I can achieve,” he reflected. “The world is small, and my experiences up until this point have shown me that everything will work out as it should in the end. I’ll figure it out.”
