def import_from(name):
    """Imports a class from the given fully qualified class name

    Args:
        **name (str)**: fully qualified class name

    Returns:
        class that was imported

    Raises:
        Exception: if the provided class name is None or empty
    """
    if name is None or name == "":
        raise Exception("can not import nothing")
    components = name.split('.')
    mod = __import__(components[0])
    for comp in components[1:]:
        mod = getattr(mod, comp)
    return mod