Wartburg shaped my world view

NAME: David Nuetzman 

CLASS YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: Accounting and business administration (finance concentration) 

CURRENT EMPLOYMENT: Audit manager, RSM US LLP

WHY WARTBURG: At the time, I liked the campus, the orange, and the smaller community.

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU NEVER IMAGINED YOU COULD DO BEFORE COMING TO WARTBURG: I have three things: 1. Push myself to travel and experience things outside of my comfort zone.  2. Give back with my time or money.  3. Move out of state.

HOW DID YOUR WARTBURG EXPERIENCE PREPARE YOU FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE:  I think one of the biggest things I took away from my time at Wartburg is that you never know what type of situation or life experience someone’s already had, so do your best to not make assumptions, but instead seek to learn from a different viewpoint. Secondly, after my first year at Wartburg, there’s no way I would’ve told you I’d move out of state to a big city and still be here. The rest of my experience at Wartburg prepared me to embrace that as the next challenge/experience in my life, rather than take the narrow-minded viewpoint to not even consider it.

David Nuetzman

WHY WAS YOUR WARTBURG EXPERIENCE WORTH IT: The liberal arts education I received definitely shaped and expanded the world view I have today. Additionally, my opportunity to participate in a multitude of high-quality activities (on-campus ticket office work, golf team manager, Symphonic Band, service trips, business club – Phi Beta Lambda, and campus ministry) also contributed to this and made my experience well worth it. Lastly, my business education was top notch as the accounting/business professors I worked with had 30+ years of experience each!

HOW DO YOU LIVE OUT THE WARTBURG MISSION: I think my management style is a reflection of what I learned at Wartburg. I utilize my faith and learning to challenge and nurture my staff members to becoming leaders themselves. I try to lead by example rather than tell people what to do.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR CURRENT STUDENTS:Try new things: go on a service trip, go on a May Term trip (doesn’t have to be overseas!), join a student group. Not everything will stick but you’ll learn more about yourself regardless! Current students feel free to reach out if you’re interested in moving to the Twin Cities and/or need a job in accounting!