Prof. Dr. Petra Steinorth, new dean of the University of Hamburg Business School“Transparent Communication Is Key to Respectful, Effective Cooperation.”

9 January 2025, by Gunda Stichbury

Photo: University of Hamburg Business School

Prof. Dr. Petra Steinorth

Prof. Dr. Petra Steinorth began her tenure as the new dean of the University of Hamburg Business School on 1 January 2025. In this interview, the professor of risk management and insurance shares her goals, her vision for the faculty, and how she plans to incorporate her international experience in research and teaching into her new position.

The University of Hamburg Business School is changing. This process is reflected not only by the change of name but also by the international accreditation process (EQUIS). What is your role, as the new dean, in this situation?

In my career at the University of Hamburg to date, it was always important to me to actively contribute to the further development of our faculty. A special focus for me is to continue with the EQUIS accreditation path already underway and to thereby advance the developmental process associated with it. The accreditation is not only a sign of quality but also an opportunity to further strengthen our international visibility and competitiveness and to further develop our organizational unit.

What is especially important to you during your tenure?

A central aspect of my tenure is to improve communication within and outside the University. In many areas, we still have potential to better communication our many strengths to our present and future stakeholders. I would also like to intensify cooperation within the business school and with the University’s other organizational units to achieve our strategic goals together.

How do you imagine better communication concretely?

To optimize external communication, I would like to strengthen the visibility of our school on LinkedIn. This platform allows us to present our accomplishments, research findings, and events in a modern way and to increase visibility and attractiveness.

And what are the plans for internal communication?

Transparent and direct communication within our business school is the key to respectful, effective cooperation. It is important to me to strengthen internal communication by introducing regular town halls. These meetings give all members and students of the business school the opportunity to share, discuss ideas, and work together on achieving our strategic goals. They promote dialogue and understanding for one another and also facilitate a shared view of the challenges and opportunities ahead.

You have an impressive academic biography and have been active in numerous professional associations and organizations. How will your experience enrich your work as dean?

Among other things, I have been the chair of the American Risk and Insurance Association since September 2022, and I was just elected to second vice president. I was also the president of the European Group of Risk and Insurance Association and the Risk Theory Society and, for several years, was a professor at St. John’s University in New York. In these roles, I was able to gather valuable experience in the organizations and strategic planning in an international context. My activities also showed me how important interdisciplinary cooperation and international networking are. I will draw on all of these experiences to strategically further develop the faculty and its role as part of a University of Excellence.

What strategic ideas would you like to offer the faculty in order to master future challenges?

My goal is to set strategic goals for strengthening internal cooperation and for increasing the impact of our business school, nationally and internationally. In the last few years, we have repeatedly been in the top 3 of the strongest research faculties in Germany. We should focus more on international peers in the coming years to develop further. We want to become more international. Overall, I am striving for constructive and productive cooperation with the entire University of Hamburg. This is also important for the impending Excellence review. A strong business school can contribute significantly to further establishing the University as a University of Excellence.