Hadi Aziznasabmoghri is studying business administration at the Ostfalia campus in Wolfsburg and has been running an Iranian restaurant in Braunschweig together with his family since February. In this interview, he explains why he decided to study business administration, how his studies help him in everyday restaurant life and why exams are sometimes more stressful than an evening in a full restaurant.
Mandy Fleer, Ostfalia editorial team: Hadi, how did you come to Ostfalia and why did you decide to study Business Administration?
Hadi: After my A-levels, I didn't know exactly what I wanted to study at first. I then thought about what I really enjoy and realised that I like maths and numbers. That's how I came up with business studies. And because you can't study business studies in Braunschweig, Ostfalia was my next choice.
What do you particularly like about the degree programme?
Hadi: I particularly like the maths content and that you learn a lot about entrepreneurship, for example marketing strategies or how to run a company.
How was the start of your studies for you?
Hadi: It was stressful at the beginning. At school, a lot of things were predetermined, but during your studies you suddenly had to work much more independently. You have to organise yourself, work through scripts and approach professors if you have questions. That was new for me. At the same time, I quickly made contacts and supported each other with fellow students.
You've been running a restaurant with your family since February. How did that come about?
Hadi: Gastronomy has always been a passion in our family. My father is a trained chef and my mother also loves cooking. The restaurant used to belong to my uncle and when he wanted to give it away, we seized the opportunity. We also realised that there were hardly any Iranian restaurants in Braunschweig. It was an exciting opportunity for us to bring Iranian food and hospitality here.
Are your studies helping you to run the restaurant?
Hadi: Definitely. Topics such as marketing and cost accounting help me a lot. For example, I use social media a lot for advertising and of course I also analyse figures such as cost of sales, turnover and calculations. I can apply the knowledge from my studies directly in practice.
What is more stressful: the exam phase or everyday restaurant life?
Hadi: I would say the exam phase. In the restaurant, you develop routines over time and know how to deal with stressful situations. With exams, you never know exactly what to expect and worry a lot about whether you will pass or fail.
What advice would you give to other students who want to become self-employed alongside their studies?
Hadi: Just go for it. If you really have a passion for it and are prepared to invest a lot of time, then you should give it a go. Of course, this also means giving up free time and working a lot. But if you have a goal in mind, it's worth it.
What are your goals for the future?
Hadi: I want to make my restaurant better known and can imagine expanding the concept in the long term or going in the direction of franchising. But first I want to successfully complete my degree.
Would you also like to study at Ostfalia? Then you can find an overview of all degree programmes here! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Central Student Advisory Service.