Anna Bachmann, Poland

1. Could you please describe your academic/ professional career in a few words?

After working for several years for various NGOs as a project manager I accepted an appointment at a think tank and became an analyst. Subsequently I won a competition for a position at the media and PR department of the German Embassy in Warsaw, where I have been responsible for the Embassy’s social media performance, for the daily press review and for various other projects concerning public diplomacy.

2. What do you find most fascinating about your home country?

Time and again I have been fascinated by the degree, to which Polish politics and political conflicts are influenced by symbolics, rather than by attempts to solve problems. But I like the expansion of bike trails, especially in the big cities, multicultural and relatively tolerant atmosphere, which has developed in Warsaw and contributed to a higher quality of life there - despite the general government policy in this area and the achievements of local and regional self-government in Poland.

3. Do you have any experience regarding a scientific or economic exchange between your home country and countries of the European Union?

I appreciate the huge flow of investments that supported the Polish economy since 1989. I personally benefited as a student from the Erasmus Exchange Program. This was a great time!

4. What do you think about the importance of Alumni in terms of the cultural, academic and economic exchange?

Alumni network can be an excellent source of both private and business contacts. I appreciate the possibility to exchange the experiences with other Alumni and get inspired by their professional careers.