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Mr. Karan, how did you join HSBA?
I have always been someone who has enjoyed supporting young people. When Uve Samuels [former Managing Director of HSBA, editor's note] asked me whether I could imagine supporting the Friends and Sponsors Association, it was a matter of course for me and I immediately said yes. Over the years, I've really enjoyed doing it and have found a lot of pleasure in it.

You were involved in founding the association in 2010.How did that come about?
We had the idea that something like a circle of friends was needed to develop a sense of community and to support things that are important alongside studying. We wanted to create a circle of friends that would expand and strengthen HSBA's network, for example by inviting well-known speakers to HSBA or organizing other networking events, but that would also support student involvement in sports or music. I found this idea important and very good and I believe we have succeeded.

Mr. Schmelzer, you were a lecturer in auditing fundamentals here at HSBA from 2011 to 2021.How did you get involved with us?
Our collaboration came about through Professor Zaeh. He also used to work at KPMG and asked us if we would give a lecture in his course. I first gave a lecture for Master's and Bachelor's students. Later on, we designed a specialization in auditing and business consulting. I was really happy to take it on, but at first I thought I was doing accounting and not auditing theory (laughs). In 2021 I handed over to a colleague when I joined the Board of Friends and Sponsors.

And how did you join the association?
Relatively simply, Mr. Karan asked me if I would like to take over his position. It's one of those questions that you can't turn down. I felt it was an honor and was very happy about it, because I've felt very close to HSBA for a long time.

What are the most important areas in which the association is involved?
I think there are two sides to it. Mr. Karan just mentioned one of them, i.e. the extracurricular topics that we support with the association, everything that makes up the core of HSBA but is not part of normal teaching. In the field of music, for example, that would be the band or the numerous sporting activities of the students. But of course, supporting excursions or conference participation in the doctoral program is also part of it. On the other hand, I see it as our task to continue to network HSBA well in Hamburg's business community and to maintain contacts. Mr. Karan has created a stable foundation here. This strengthens HSBA now and in the future.

Mr. Karan, you have already helped many young people to realize their dreams and have encouraged and supported them.Not only at HSBA.Where does your commitment come from?
Helping young people is a fundamental need for me, because I believe that our future belongs to young people. If we didn't support them and show them the way, we would find a completely different cultural landscape. At the graduation ceremonies, I have so often looked into the many young faces. I realized that many of them only need a little help to develop their full potential. I myself am an orphan. So many people have helped me and reached out to me again and again so that I could move forward. That's why I know how important it is for young people who don't yet have a network to have someone at their side.

Was there a project that was particularly close to your heart?
As I used to make music with friends myself, the musical projects like the band were very close to my heart and I was able to build up a real connection. But of course I was also happy to support the sporting competitions, such as the rowing competition with Jacobs University. But they were on the water and I'm just a landlubber.