The Power Of Thinking Like An Economist With Soumaya Keynes Artwork

How Did I Get Here? from Discover Economics

What are you going to be when you grow up? A doctor, an astronaut, an engineer, a footballer? Very few people have ever dreamt that one day they would be an economist. It’s a profession on few young people’s radars, is barely understood and, let’s face it, has an image problem. Most people picture economists, if they think about them at all, as “men in suits who are crunching numbers, talking about interest rates and making money”.This series of podcasts aim to challenge – and change – your image of economists. A series of conversations with economists who are working in a variety of different organisations, the podcasts will explore their personal journeys. What inspired them to choose to study economics? How did they get to their current position? What are they currently working on and what are some of the things that they love about economics?

All Episodes

How Did I Get Here? from Discover Economics

The Power Of Thinking Like An Economist With Soumaya Keynes

March 25, 2025 • Two Bees Consulting Ltd • Season 2 • Episode 27

Economics is about more than models and markets, it’s a way of understanding how the world works and making better decisions about the future.

In this episode, we meet Soumaya Keynes, Economics Columnist at the Financial Times. Soumaya shows how economics isn’t just a subject, but a powerful tool for asking better questions about the world.

Soumaya studied economics at Cambridge before building an impressive career in journalism, including eight years at The Economist and co-hosting Money Talks and Trade Talks. Today, she writes weekly columns for the FT and hosts The Economics Show. Along the way, she’s been flying the flag for greater diversity in economics, sharing what it’s really like to work in the field and why she’s hopeful about its future.

Soumaya shares her journey into economics, offering a refreshing take on what the subject is (and isn’t), why it’s relevant to people who care about real-world problems, and how the skills you learn can take you anywhere.

In this episode, we cover:

How to use your interests - whether it’s climate change, social justice, or even opera - to find your place in economics.
How economics helps you make sense of news, politics, and data.
Why the neatness of maths might hold you back in economics.
Make better decisions by understanding the difference between correlation and causation.
Why men disproportionately pick economics and women disproportionately pick subjects like psychology.
How to identify the secret messages you’re told without knowing you've been told them.
How to approach uncertainty in a healthy way.
Advice for students and teachers on accessing economics - whether or not it’s taught at school.

If you’re a student considering your next steps, a student ambassador championing economics, or a teacher eager to open up access to a wider group of young people, you’ll find inspiration and practical advice here.

LEARN MORE

The Core Curriculum - https://www.core-econ.org/

The Economics Show - https://www.ft.com/the-economics-show

The Trade Talks Podcast - https://tradetalkspodcast.com/podcast/

Discover Economics - https://www.discovereconomics.co.uk

LISTEN

How Did I Get Here? from Discover Economics - https://www.discovereconomics.co.uk/podcast

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6ymip1H9Tpy5kBInSEJrUz?si=4b4013bcadd24a14

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/how-did-i-get-here-from-discover-economics/id1557268390