Philipp Hildebrandt studied Agricultural Sciences at the University of Hohenheim and stayed in Hohenheim for his Master’s degree. Today, he works for Deutsche Milchkontor as a Commodity Risk Manager.
His Tips
Be patient and think step-by-step into the future.
Be open for new experiences.
Be proactive and participate. Hohenheim offers a lot of opportunities for that.
Use the time between your Bachelor’s and Master’s to gain experience. Either abroad or closer to home.
I work in the DMK’s corporate strategy and market intelligence division, and I work in particular on the topic of price hedging. That means that I carry out security transactions for the industrial sector, trading companies, and milk producers on the commodity futures exchanges.
Every day I work with a lot of other disciplines - and I deal with a lot of numbers. I develop strategies, collect data, and look at where the global commodity markets are headed. This gives us planning security, and we can optimally position ourselves as a food company. I also advise the European Commission as an expert for agricultural markets.
When did you decide to take the job?
While I was studying, I thought about what I could do well and what I enjoyed. At the end of my Bachelor’s I knew that I wanted to do something related to the food industry. After my degree, I first supported and represented the University Management with various projects. I jumped directly into the deep end with those projects, but that really helped my further development. That’s also where I made the first contacts with my current employer.
“After my studies, I jumped directly into the deep end, but that really helped my development.”
I jumped directly into the deep end with those projects, but that really helped my further development. That’s also where I made the first contacts with my current employer.
Studies
Why the University of Hohenheim? And why Agricultural Sciences?
I first decided on the degree program I wanted to study. I think agriculture is an area that is extremely diverse. It offers natural sciences, business, engineering, even everything from politics to sociology, and you get to be outdoors a lot. Then I got information about possible places to study through the student advisory service.
“At first I didn’t even know where Hohenheim was located.”
I jumped directly into the deep end with those projects, but that really helped my further development. That’s also where I made the first contacts with my current employer.
What were your studies like?
During my Bachelor’s program, I decided to specialize in “WiSoLa,” that is, business and social sciences in agriculture. When I finished my Bachelor’s and knew the area I wanted to get into, I then did a Master’s in Agribusiness. That allowed me to go into more scientific depth. During my Master’s, I changed my mind about two or three subjects. I paid attention to what I like and then went in that direction step by step.
“You have to take things step by step and pay attention to what you enjoy.”
During my Bachelor’s program, I decided to specialize in “WiSoLa,” that is, business and social sciences in agriculture. When I finished my Bachelor’s and knew the area I wanted to get into, I then did a Master’s in Agribusiness. That allowed me to go into more scientific depth. During my Master’s, I changed my mind about two or three subjects. I paid attention to what I like and then went in that direction step by step.
What about experiences outside of the classroom?
I did internships, including with a tax and corporate consulting business for agricultural operations in Stuttgart. Then I led tutorials for Chemistry, and for a brief time also for Physics. Helping this group of around 100 people during their studies was a great experience that I still benefit from today. Between my Bachelor’s and Master’s, I took the opportunity to go to Nigeria in Africa for several months. I didn’t study there. Instead, I worked into the grain industry to build up strategic commodity trading. That already clearly went in the direction of the job I do today.
What surprises and challenges were there during your studies?
I shortened my Bachelor’s program to two years - and of course that presented me with a lot of challenges, for example just the sheer number of exams in an examination period. I think that I’m very down-to-earth, but the intense work can really make it hard to keep calm.
My recommendation is that you approach the lecturers and get more feedback about your work.
What competences from your studies are important in your job today?
Firstly, the heavy workload and handling a lot of data. That means that I can structure and prioritize things well, see the big picture, and express these such that they can be quantified in some way. Creating models and prognoses is also something that you learn during your studies and might be harder for other people to do. Especially at the end of my Bachelor’s program, I learned that it’s not always about memorizing things but about discussing and questioning them.
"The point is not always to memorize things, but to discuss and question them."
When I think back on my studies in Hohenheim, I think of...
... the most beautiful campus in Germany, the friendships I made, and the personal development I went through there.
