Mixing it up post MBA
Aug, 2010
Melbourne Business School 2008 alumnus, Florian Poppe and his wife Claudia have been busy nursing two bundles of joy this year – and not just the infant kind.
In June, the couple launched MuesliMixer, an online customised breakfast store, which allows customers to design their own muesli mix from more than 55 ingredients.
Less than three months after the business launch, the couple – who moved from Germany to Australia in 2006 – welcomed baby Julia into their online world of honey toasted oats, mulberries, flaked almonds, and wheat pillows.
Florian, who completed his MBA in 2008, together with wife Claudia investigated different business ideas and the Australian cereal market, before developing the unique breakfast concept.
“Customers can choose a base, add dried fruit, nuts and seeds and then name their personalised muesli,” says Florian, who then mixes the cereal with wife Claudia, before couriering it to the doorstop of their growing customer base.
“MBS provided me with the framework on how to do things, where to focus on, and how to think about all aspects of a business in a strategic way,” says Florian.
Florian, who also works as the Supply Chain Manager at Lonely Planet and heads-up their Ethical Program monitoring the ethical standards of Lonely Planet production, says that building international connections was an invaluable experience at MBS.
“If you have that network later on, then you can call up this person, who works with that company, and they have the answer right away – or they know somebody who does,” describes Florian.
As MBS welcomes its newest September intake, Florian’s keen to share some useful insights for the new full-time MBA students.
“First of all don’t worry about the grades in the first semester. Everyone stresses about them, and it’s not the ones that have the best grades that always get the best jobs afterwards.
“Also, in the first semester I determined one day a week where I was doing nothing for the MBA. I worked a little bit harder the other days, but always had a great day off and travelled around Melbourne and Victoria,” says Florian.
Florian stresses that the networking opportunities at MBS are just as important as the education and experience.
“I also learned and benefited from the network I had,” says Florian about the creation of MuesliMixer.
“The webpage layout and design was done by my MBS colleagues, and there were several of my mates who run a home business that we asked for advice as well.”
The MuesliMixer website also allows customers to choose from pre-designed mixes, including the Aussie Mix with raisins, blueberries and cornflakes; the Runners Mix with three grains, banana, and bran flakes; and the Gluten Free Mix with psyllium husk, apricots and dates.
“Of course heaps of muesli testing was done by MBS colleagues,” concludes Florian.
To find out more about MuesliMixer and customise your own mix, visit http://www.mueslimixer.com.au/.
