Karl Asger Juhl
I am Danish-American—my father is Danish and my mother is American. While I was born in Denmark, I have lived in many countries and cities such as Kiev in Budapest and Lausanne in Colorado, just to name a few. One of my core passions is skiing and my time interning for an independent ski manufacturer in Colorado inspired me to choose IE University’s Behavioral Science program. After sharing classes with students from the Bachelor in Data and Business Analytics, I decided to switch degrees as it suited my technological interest more accurately. I balance my career and academic-related work with my love of the outdoors and team sports like football.
"I decided the Bachelor in Data and Business Analytics degree matched my technological interests more accurately and could empower me to make a larger impact in the world."
Making the most of the IE University experience
Karl’s family has called many places home, and during his childhood he became used to traveling and adapting to different cultures. After taking a gap year in Colorado, Karl realized he missed being immersed in new contexts. Following the advice of a friend, he decided to enroll in IE University as it would let him experience an entirely new place—Madrid.
Just one semester into the Behavioral Science degree, Karl decided to switch programs. While he describes his initial choice as a great degree, he found that his technological interests were more aligned with what the Data & Business Analytics program offers. During his time in the program, Karl has been able to collaborate with some of the world’s largest multinational companies on several projects. He highlights how useful the projects are in enabling individuals like him to create value by deriving insights from data.
Karl strongly urges students to make the most of the various clubs present at IE University, both academic and athletic. He is a member of the coding club, and even served as a coordinator for a semester. Before arriving at IE University, Karl’s gap year was spent at Icelantic Skis, a medium-sized independent ski manufacturer in Colorado. And so he also joined the ski club as soon as he could, something he recalls being a seamless and easy process.
Another benefit Karl notes of joining the diverse and extensive selection of clubs and sports on offer, is the opportunity to network. Whether meeting students from other programs or connecting with people from outside, the clubs help build the network that can kick-start students’ professional careers.
With much of his career and academic-related work involving computer-intensive activities, such as programming and research, Karl’s passion for outdoor sports and activities contrasts nicely with his professional path. His passions and favorite hobbies present an eclectic picture, mixing the physical with the artistic. A love for skiing is complemented by his enjoyment of hiking and team sports such as football, while photography and experimenting with fashion design capture some of his artistic side.
With the final stages of his degree in sight, Karl has begun to look at what comes next. He plans initially to explore a variety of industries, ranging from healthcare to aerospace and defense, where he can apply his skills and data analytics toolset. He is currently looking for an internship in the United States, an opportunity which is available to him thanks to the program.
Wherever he ends up, Karl is looking forward to integrating and putting into practice the three years of knowledge the program offers. He believes it will not only encourage a smoother transition to a professional career but also help him piece together which industry suits him best and create value on a daily basis.
In the early stages of his career, Karl sees himself passionately applying his technical expertise to boost and enhance analytical practices in his chosen industry. One day soon, perhaps sooner than expected, Karl wants to lead a data team or even a department of analytics. He leaves us with one piece of wisdom that has stuck with him:
“You have to be a fool before you can be a master and if you’re not willing to be a fool, you can’t be a master.”
