Turning Academic Curiosity into Career Clarity

By Sarah Tauber

During my final semesters at Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU), I knew I needed to complete my second course in Sustainable Economics and Business. When looking through the available courses, it was important to me to choose something with more depth. I was looking for a relevant, tangible class that connected to real-world issues. I enjoy theory, but I also want to work with content that I can apply in a future career.

When I came across Teresa and Sidan’s class, Geopolitics of Trade and Sustainability, it immediately caught my attention. From the very first lesson onwards, I was genuinely intrigued. Having just returned from my exchange semester and still readjusting, it was refreshing to join a class that was thought-provoking and motivated me to participate. The weekly assignments were engaging and focused on real-world, current issues, keeping the course relevant. We were also encouraged to share our opinions, not only on the topics discussed but even on the teaching approach.

I found the assignments very creative, particularly the video project, where we had to explain a concept in a one-minute video. I enjoyed the new learning approach and the variety of tasks, which kept the lectures interesting and relevant. Trade is of great importance, which was also one of the reasons behind my choice of bachelor’s thesis topic.

Just before taking this class, I completed an exchange semester in which trade played a major role. Teresa and Sidan’s course was the perfect continuation of what I had learned abroad, which ultimately led me to write my bachelor’s thesis with Sidan. I focused on emerging trade corridors, comparing the Panama Canal to the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT), which is currently under construction in Mexico. Sidan helped me refine the topic, make it relevant, and ensure that it was easy to follow. Most importantly, he wanted the topic to reflect me and my research style. He was supportive and offered critical thoughts to strengthen the work but never tried to interfere with my research goals. He wanted it to remain authentic and connected to the student, just as he demonstrated throughout the lectures.

This class not only sparked my interest in trade but also inspired me to apply to the master’s program in Supply Chain Management at WU. I learned how crucial a well-functioning trade system is and how important it is to understand its dynamics. I am grateful to have signed up for this class and to have worked together with Sidan to complete my thesis. It taught me to approach every issue from multiple perspectives while staying true to my way of thinking and research.

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