Edith Schmid: "A lot of people couldn’t understand why I decided to study philosophy at ETH."

When you were a kid, what did you want to be?

I was never able to commit to one thing – and I still can’t today. I like defining myself in lots of different ways, not just because of what I do for a living.

You gained a Master’s in History and Philosophy of Knowledge at ETH Zurich after having obtained your Bachelor’s in Business Management at the University of St. Gallen. What inspired you to study at ETH?

After my Bachelor’s at the University of St. Gallen, I thought it was important to gain some practical experience. I learnt about PwC at a career’s event. It was clear to me that fresh out of uni I wanted to prove myself. After three years and two promotions, I had reached the level of Senior Consultant in the Pharmaceuticals team. Despite my success and working with a fantastic team at PwC, I didn't want to give up on my plan of getting a Master's. However, the marginal benefit of a Master’s in business management wasn’t enough for me and when looking at suitable courses, I discovered that ETH was running a Master’s in History and Philosophy of Knowledge.

I’d always been interested in fundamental issues and reflecting on purpose. I can see the relevance of philosophy for economic activity. So I applied, was accepted and decided to study at ETH despite also being accepted for some leading universities in the US.

The rest is simple: A lot of people couldn’t understand why I decided to study philosophy at ETH. I found the topic of philosophy, coupled with the innovative ETH environment, incredibly inspiring. I became President of the ETH Entrepreneur club and together with a professor at ETH then founded a medtech start-up. Here I am dealing with health issues so I am forced into addressing questions surrounding the meaning of life where my philosophical background is very useful.

In your Master’s dissertation, you researched the effect of artificial intelligence (AI) on our cultural living environment. Why did you decide on this subject?

We are currently on the threshold of a new era of industrialisation, which will again revolutionise our cultures. It will do so faster and more comprehensively than the revolutions of the 18th to 20th century. But in my dissertation, I ask how and where this is happening.

You are currently working on your doctorate. What are you researching now?

In my PhD, I’m taking the ideas from my Master’s dissertation to the next level and concentrating on the subject of hybrid communities between people and AI agents. What can they do better than us and what are they not able to do? What concepts do we need in order to be able to ask and answer this question appropriately? How can this question be formulated in one concept, which simplifies dialogue with information technology? To explain the questions, I also refer to conceptual resources in philosophy of the mind, cognitive sciences, cultural philosophy and information technology.

Your CV also contains a lot of voluntary work. What motivates you?

On the one hand, I like setting things up, rolling my sleeves up and getting stuck in. On the other hand, I like to reflect on the status quo and question whether we can do things differently or better. Both result in a lot of self-initiative and ultimately voluntary work.

You are also a board member of the Entrepreneur Alumni. Why did you choose to join the ETH Entrepreneur club when you were a student and to get more involved?

As a student, you get to live in the protected framework of a university. At ETH, the Entrepreneur Club is a fantastic institution where we were able to put crazy ideas into practice and run crazy events. It was incredible! Once you leave uni, you quickly lose this framework, so through the Entrepreneur Alumni club, we aimed to keep our network alive. Every day through my work as an entrepreneur I see how important networks are – and the people in and linked to the ETH Entrepreneur Club are honest, challenging, intelligent and perhaps a little crazy. Why wouldn't I want to get involved?

Could you share some of your tips for today’s students?

When you're studying, just about everything you do revolves around your time at uni: How do I get good grades? What subject should I choose? Which association should I join? All your decisions revolve around what makes a good student. It’s a demanding time and a huge amount of pressure is heaped on you. But I believe that what comes after you've graduated is even more challenging: you have to make decisions outside the protective framework of a university. You no longer have a curriculum telling you what to do. Which path do you want to take now? Who do you want to be once you have graduated from the role of a student? Addressing these kinds of questions when you are still at university can prepare you better for live “after” university.