Trip Region: Europe
Country(ies): Germany
Partners Trek? Yes
Cost: $1770
Airfare Estimate: $1100
Structure: •
Lodging: •
Nightlife: 3 •
Activity: 2
Trek Description:
Germany: where the beer is always cold, the pretzels are always warm, they make wearing lederhosen look cool, and trying to pronounce everything is an adventure in itself. We’ll kickoff our trip in Berlin, where history and cool vibes collide. We’ll explore iconic spots like the Berlin Wall Memorial and Checkpoint Charlie. We’ll also venture out of the city and visit Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam and see the storybook charm of Quedlinburg and it’s enchanting medieval streets. The second half of our trip will take us to Hamburg where we’ll hop on a scenic harbor boat tour and soak up the city’s rich history and buzzing atmosphere. Throughout the week, we’ll immerse ourselves in different parts of German culture, through experiences like a traditional brewery tour, visiting the stunning Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen, and going out to see Berlin’s world renowned night life!
Day 1 — Thursday, Aug 17
https://www.tourhero.com/en/epic-adventures/germany/nein-nein-problems-but-mtrek-germany-aint-one-209960
Carrie Albers

Hometown: Smolan, Kansas (the best 200 person town in the world!!)
Undergrad: University of Kansas (Chemical Engineering)
Pre-MBA life: Consulting
Post-MBA plans: Corporate Strategy (basically consulting?)
Why should you join my trek?
Mtrek is the best way to start off your MBA experience! There is nothing better after you’re exhausted from saying “Go Blue” 10,000 times in orientation than going halfway across the world with complete strangers. We’re so excited to have a great trip where you’ll get to choose your own adventure with the best company at Ross!
I can give you the inside scoop on the real life of a consultant, talk recruiting for any job that you aren’t working more than sleeping, and make you question all those goals you wrote about in your admissions essays. I’ll say slightly too much about my obsession with Kansas and Pepsi slushies. We’ll bond over nights at the club, long walks through a museum, and making fun of Sam and Stu in their lederhosen. I’ve never been to Berlin, I can’t wait to explore a new place with new friends!
Sam Stead

Hometown: Auckland, New Zealand
Undergrad: Victoria University of Wellington (Bcomm Public Policy & International Business)
Pre-MBA life: Consulting and NZ Politics
Post-MBA plans: General Management LDP
Why should you join my trek?
Picture this: You’re in your first week of class at Ross. You’re trying to work out how to get ChatGPT to summarize a 30-page strategy case and why, in the world, a demand “curve” is actually just a straight line. But then… you go to your happy place. The streets of Berlin; where beers are plentiful, currywurst is on every corner, and you’re having the time of your life with 20 new best friends that you met 6 days ago at orientation.
Join the team for the absolute trip of a lifetime as we explore one of the world’s coolest capital cities, delve into a medieval village that looks straight out of a Disney movie, visit the birthplace of the hamburger (sorta) and cap it all off with the chance to partake in Germany’s renowned nightlife. We’re excited to welcome you to Ross, and can’t wait to get started on this trip!
Stu Carley

Hometown: Denver, CO
Undergrad: United States Coast Guard Academy (BS Marine & Environmental Science)
Pre-MBA life: US Coast Guard Officer
Post-MBA plans: US Coast Guard Officer
Why should you join my trek?
M-trek is an amazing way to kick off your time at Ross and the German M-trek leaders genuinely care about ensuring your Ross experience starts off right!
Coming from the Coast Guard prior to Ross, business school was a big adjustment so I understand how daunting of a time this might be. I want to ensure anyone on this trek has the support they need during their MBA1 year. Whether it’s helping get an extra football student ticket for your partner or navigating Ann Arbor, I hope to connect and help in anyway I can.
I am an avid sports fan and played lacrosse growing up from middle school through undergrad. I enjoy cycling, backpacking, and snowboarding along with just chillin on Sunday mornings with my wife and fellow trek leader, Maria-Paula, and our German Shepherd Dakota. I’m also a big coffee snob and am still trying to perfect the perfect cup of pour-over.
So, whether you’re looking forward to immersing yourself in German culture or drinking a Das Boot full of Hefeweizen there is no schadenfreude on this trek. We have carefully crafted a unique trip hitting the highlights Berlin and Hamburg have to offer with some great stops along the way. So don’t be a Sauerkraut and join this trek. See you in Deutschland!
Maria-Paula Muñoz

Hometown: Born in Bogota, Colombia, raised in Houston, TX
Undergrad: Rice University (BS Civil Engineering) // University of Texas MBA
Pre-MBA life: Internal consulting in CPG and Energy
Post-MBA plans: [current post-MBA life] Tech StratOps
Why should you join my trek?
B-school was such a fun, rewarding two years and I’m excited to be part of the group that welcomes you to this new adventure! I got my MBA at Texas McCombs (Texas Fight!) and transitioned into tech after graduation so I can speak to career pivoting, working in tech, life in the Bay Area, what working remote is like, and managing a dual career. I can also share what my experience as a partner at Ross has been like! It’s been so fun to do b-school “again” from this perspective and I’m looking forward to meeting some new MBA1 partners over the next year 🙂
Here’s some other stuff about me: I like to be active and be outside (currently training for my second marathon!), I like to train my dog to do cool shit (Covid puppy), and I am a massive Pitbull (e.g., Mr. Worldwide, Mr. 305) fan. Other fun benefits: I can interpret your astrological birth chart for free, know the words to 85% of top 100 songs from the years 1999-2012, and can provide endless trivia for travel time on the bus.