Zelalem Abay, tell us about your background
– I was born and raised in Ethiopia. In 2014, I came to Sweden to study my Master’s degree in Accounting and Control at Karlstad Business School. Before that I completed Master’s degree in Accounting and Finance at Addis Ababa University and worked as a University Lecturer in Ethiopia. I completed my PhD study from Gothenburg University in 2022 and subsequently joined Mälardalen University as Senior Lecturer. In my PhD thesis, I studied the topics on ESG disclosure and assurance.
What will you do at the business school?
– I joined the business school as Associate Senior Lecturer, a more research-oriented position compared to my previous Senior Lecturer position at Mälardalen University. This position will allow me to focus more on conducting research and engaging in research related activities.
Tell us, what is interesting with business and administration?
– The broad nature of business administration where diverse disciplines that are crucial for the success of business organizations come together makes the field quite interesting. A comprehensive understanding of these interconnected disciplines such as Accounting, Finance, Marketing, and Management makes the field an interesting and crucial to solve complex business environments.
– There are two main reasons why I applied for this position. First, the research-oriented nature of the position perfectly aligns with my interest to continue my career as a researcher. Second, having completed my master’s degree here, I am aware of the overall research profile of the school with experienced professors, researchers and the well-known research centers like CTF. Knowing this conducive research environment at the school made my choice easier.
What are your expectations on joining the business school?
– Like I mentioned earlier, I am a bit familiar with the environment here from my time as a student. So, my expectation is to re-experience and enjoy the supportive and collaborative working environment as an employee. I look forward to enhancing and building my academic career by working and collaborating with the excellent staff at this school.
