Social engagement has always played a significant role in Laura Lentz’s life, something she attributes largely to the example set by her mother. Lentz explains that from a young age, she experienced what it means to commit to social causes.
During her time at secondary school, Lentz served as a student ambassador for UNICEF, a role that would shape her future aspirations. She continued this commitment at university, taking on the position of student ambassador for the Aurora European University Alliance, a network of nine universities, where she tackled issues such as climate change. Through trips to Brussels and participation in a climate conference in Rome as part of an Erasmus project, she broadened her experience. Lentz was also active in the Börsenverein in Innsbruck as head of marketing, where she focused on creating connections between students.
This sustained dedication paid off recently when the University of Innsbruck recognised the 22-year-old from Mersch as Student of the Year in Management and Economics. The award not only acknowledges outstanding academic performance but also her social involvement. Lentz stresses that it made her happy to see that it is not just about academic achievement, but also about how you contribute to society.
Before moving to Innsbruck, the foundations of Lentz’s passion for economics were established in her native Luxembourg. After attending primary school and her early secondary years in Mersch, she transferred to the Lycée classique de Diekirch (LCD) for Quatrième, where her fascination with economics began to take shape.
She recalls having had an incredibly motivating teacher at LCD who sparked her interest in economics, an experience that encouraged her to start looking into the subject more deeply. This choice was soon followed by a decision to pursue this path. Now, Lentz believes that economics can be a valuable opportunity for everyone, emphasising that the field is extremely diverse, and the prospects for the future are strong.
After leaving secondary school, Lentz moved to Innsbruck, a city that immediately won her over, as it is an "extremely open and social city". In addition to the ease of meeting new people and the presence of a Luxembourgish community, Lentz appreciates Innsbruck’s balance between study and leisure. To help her clear her head from university stress, she would go hiking in the mountains or ski in winter. Her degree programme in Innsbruck was bilingual, taught in both English and German, and included a mandatory semester abroad. Lentz spent four months at University College Dublin, which she describes as an invaluable experience where she met people from all over the world.
Having completed her bachelor’s degree, Lentz is now moving on to Vienna to pursue a master’s in economics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. For her, moving from a smaller city to a larger one is a logical next step for her professional development. After obtaining her master’s, she aims to make her mark on the international stage. Her ambitions are clear: Lentz is particularly interested in major organisations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), NATO, and the European Union, which she says all have an international focus and tackle major global challenges.
