Reflections Of Life

Harbinger - Interview with Prof. Mark Finn

Thursday, August 11, 2005

I was browsing through the last year's ISB student newsletter - Harbinger and happened to read an interview with our first term Accounting professor Mark Finn. Read on...

Mark Finn – Up close and personal
The man who goes not by minutes but by seconds with his syllabus. The man who smiles and turns red with every joke cracked in class – the most handsome ‘kurta’ clad guy on campus. Ladies and gentlemen here’s Professor Mark Finn for you. This is what he has to say about some “hidden secrets”- as he calls them - of his life! :)

The Mark we don’t know …
I was born in the rural mountain west and was a pretty studious child by American standards. My first memories of life are of an American Indian reservation where I lived. A fairly depressed economic place, but back then I did not notice it. I love swimming, basketball and Shakespeare plays. We (my family) have season tickets to Shakespeare plays where we go every summer. My wife and I also love classical music and so do my children – though my son has been recently asking me about ‘rap’ and I have been trying to stop that! :)

Your first crush...
I started going around with this girl (my first serious crush) when I was 15 and she was 16. I did not know that in her family 16 was the marriageable age! It was more of an innocent, naïve relationship where we did not meet one on one but more at social gatherings and dances. And then she broke off because she was getting married.

Heartbroken??.. :(
Yeah, sure. I was like “why would u want to do that??” :))

Teaching career...
I started teaching at the age of 34 in the University of Chicago and then moved on to Kellogg. I am involved in Kellogg’s overseas study program where students travel to various countries overseas and research about a topic.

Comparisons between students at ISB/Kellogg/other countries…
Indians behave more like Americans - they are responsive. Whereas in Japan, it is polite not to respond when a professor cold calls. People shrug, smile, and look down and it is considered to be “oh isn’t that so cute!!” .In America and India it would be weird! Between Kellogg and the ISB, the behavior is almost the same although there is some slackening of effort here in reaching the class on time. But I know that students here are more stressed as compared to Kellogg students who typically have 2 classes in a day with many breaks, which helps them come back to class on time. In terms of CP and diversity I think it is pretty much the same.

Arbit CP in class??...
Not ever in my class, because as you know everything in accounting is by numbers and so are the grades!!

Reaction towards people sleeping in class…??
Yes, happens at times. My philosophy is everything is a free market; people have freedom to do what they want. That is the way I operate. I make them pay separate penalties; as you know, I do cold call. I have seen people here with their heads down...all groggy. Unless a person’s behaviour is affecting others I don’t regulate them. I get madder whenpeople come late and walk in front of the professor when he is talking.

Words of Wisdom…
Concentrate on ‘learning’ what you want to learn for life rather than learning for grades. Employers care less about grades than you might think. Think about the life you want and not about the job you want. It is much more important to attack whatever you have with vigour. Don’t worry about outcomes- have fun! Keep working on building the school spirit, the clubs and other activities - because this is the distinguishing feature which will make the school strong.

- As told to Khushboo

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