Fostering Entrepreneurial Spirit – Ernst Eugen Esch and Hans-Christoph Seewald in Conversation with Students
2026-07-10 The endowed chair in entrepreneurship (currently filled) established by founder Ernst Eugen Esch is designed to prepare students to start their own businesses. Now, the entrepreneur himself, together with Hans-Christoph Seewald—himself the founder of a major accounting firm—engaged in a discussion with interested students. Moderated by Professor Pauline Reinecke, who holds the Chair in Business Administration, specializing in Strategic Entrepreneurship, the students discussed the challenges and opportunities of starting a business, the importance of innovation, responsibility, and the courage to seize entrepreneurial opportunities.
Ernst Eugen Esch listens attentively, asks targeted follow-up questions, and wants to fully understand the young entrepreneur’s idea. Finn Giese is one of about 30 students at Leuphana who have the opportunity to speak with the entrepreneur and philanthropist. The law student and his classmates have founded a digital startup. Their platform helps people navigate German bureaucracy more effectively. “It’s a great opportunity for me to exchange ideas with such an experienced entrepreneur as Mr. Esch. When you start a business, you take on responsibility and shape the future,” says Finn Giese.
It is precisely this philosophy that has shaped Ernst Eugen Esch’s entire professional life: He built companies, recognized opportunities, and thereby influenced societal developments. Even in retirement, he wants to pass on his experience and encourage the next generation to bring their own ideas to life. “That’s why I endowed a professorship in entrepreneurship at Leuphana,” explains Ernst Eugen Esch. The endowed professorship is intended to further strengthen entrepreneurship education at Leuphana and create new opportunities to bridge the gap between research and practice.
Leuphana President Sascha Spoun, Prof. Dr. Pauline Reinecke, and Prof. Dr. Markus Reihlen, Vice President for Entrepreneurship, Transfer, and Internationalization, led the afternoon’s program. They moderated the dialogue between the two entrepreneurs and the students, addressing topics such as starting a business, responsibility, and innovation.
Intergenerational exchange is particularly close to Ernst Eugen Esch’s heart: “Entrepreneurship means taking on responsibility and also taking risks. That’s why it’s important to me that young people learn the fundamentals of starting a business comprehensively: grounded in science and at the same time practical.”
A native of the Rhineland, he first completed an apprenticeship as a window display designer, then studied industrial design, and founded his own design firm. During the economic crisis of the early 1980s, he moved into the business world and took charge of promotional sales at the coffee retail chain Eduscho—a demanding management role.
The catalyst was a change in the law in the Federal Republic of Germany that prohibited free gifts, such as a lighter, with a pound of coffee. Eduscho responded with a fundamental shift in strategy: Instead of bundled offers, the company began selling standalone promotional items alongside coffee—ranging from handbags and egg cookers to bicycles. The concept proved to be a huge success. Supported by modern logistics and television advertising, the company’s revenue grew from around 120 million to more than one billion Deutschmarks within just a few years. “The market had the final say,” summarized Ernst Eugen Esch.
Leuphana President Sascha Spoun took up this idea and highlighted the entrepreneurial significance of the measures: “The key is to recognize such opportunities and adapt one’s own portfolio accordingly. It is the combination of ideas that defines an entrepreneur. Ernst Eugen Esch invented a new model of business design. That is something special.”
Consultant, auditor, and tax advisor Hans-Christoph Seewald also engaged in conversation with the students that afternoon: “My responsibility to society does not end when I leave the company. I want to continue helping shape the future,” he explained.
An exciting point of discussion revolved around the question of how innovation-friendly Germany actually is today. Hannah Lea Brümmer is studying the “Management and Entrepreneurship” program at Leuphana’s Graduate School. “How can we make Germany more innovation-friendly and ensure that innovations—especially those from young startups—stay here?” she asked.
The answer was clear: Germany is shaped by regulation and established market structures. “It’s easier to enter the market internationally,” lamented Ernst Eugen Esch. Hans-Christoph Seewald put it bluntly: “With radically new products, you hardly stand a chance in the German market. That’s when all the barriers to innovation come into play.”
Another key topic was how entrepreneurs deal with uncertainty. The two guests’ answer was unequivocal: enthusiasm for one’s own idea and a willingness to learn continuously are crucial prerequisites. At the same time, a stable personal environment is needed to cope with stress. “But when you see your own ideas develop and take a positive turn, it’s incredibly motivating,” reported Ernst Eugen Esch. Through the endowed professorship, he aims to foster precisely this entrepreneurial spirit. His appeal to students and young founders was therefore: “Take advantage of the opportunities you have, and be strong and committed!”
Leuphana University of Lueneburg ranks among the leading universities in the field of entrepreneurship in terms of research and teaching and is one of the most startup-friendly universities in Germany. Its activities in supporting startups have received numerous awards. For many years, the university has successfully supported entrepreneurial ventures; promising startups and innovations from established companies have their roots here. Furthermore, entrepreneurship is a broad field of research at Leuphana: It encompasses areas such as social, sustainable, cultural, and digital entrepreneurship, as well as entrepreneurship in schools, and is represented by a wide range of conceptual and methodological approaches.