Professor Q & A - Prof. Dr. Anna Göddeke

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This is the second post in our Professor Q&A series. The aim of the series is to allow present and prospective students to better get to know our amazing professors. This post features Prof. Dr. Anna Göddeke, professor of Microeconomics and Quantitative Methods.


1. In what roles have you contributed to ESB Business School?
Chief cook and bottle-washer – like most of us….

2. What makes a good professor?
I don’t think there is an appropriate answer to your question. Students are diverse and therefore there is a need for very distinct professors. Thinking about the IB Team I would hope that all of us have very diverse qualities, skills and personalities [well I am sure about the latter ;-)] and thus every one of you should find at least one “good professor” within our team.

3. Is there anything you would you like to change about your job?
Currently, I would love to have less administrative things to care about. And I would love to receive less emails!

4. What kind of student were you in university? 
I hated school but I loved my time at university. Having time to study mostly what I was really interested in, being surrounded by equally curious and equally minded friends was amazing. The four years I was allowed to be a full time student passed much too quickly. So, enjoy yours!

5. Based on all of your experience, what is the most valuable lesson you have learned?
I have for sure not enough experience to answer this question.

6. What are your hobbies?
Wow, the old friendships book question: Visiting larger cities and enjoying the cultural life. I am just about to visit an arthouse cinema the third time this week, so maybe that also counts as a hobby? Cooking, baking? And sports, I hate sitting at a desk and have to do that much too often!

7. What are your three favorite books?
I do not enjoy reading and rarely if ever read novels. I guess cookbooks and economics books do not count here as an answer? The choice is therefore limited. However, I enjoyed Victor Frankl: “Man's Search For Meaning”, Oliver Sachs: “Uncle Tungston” and Richard Feynman “Surely you are joking, Mr Feynman”. A book only available in German but also great is Wladyslaw Bartoszewski: “Es lohnt sich, anständig zu sein”. My list of favourite cookbooks or economics books would be based on a larger sample!

 

8. What do you like most about being a professor?
For me two different things:  Students joining the IB program have a very diverse background and very different expectations and opportunities in life. Getting to know (at least some of you) better is wonderful. Furthermore it is about seeing our students grow and maybe supporting you a bit with this development: After 3.5 years at ESB, abroad and doing internships most of you have grown to amazing (young) adults. Being allowed to witness this is quite a gift.

9. If you hadn’t chosen a career in teaching, what would you be doing now?
Hopefully having an equally fulfilling job. Having fun and earning a fortune with the job great but often overrated. At the end of the day, for me it matters much more that I make a positive impact and my job is useful. There are tons of other jobs with these characteristics outside of teaching, but please let me do one of those!