Five Things to Know About Ahmed Ahmed, One of Poets & Quants’ Best Undergraduate Professors
Ahmed Ahmed loves teaching and learning. In the classroom, he does both.
“You will learn just as much from your students as they learn from you,” said Ahmed, an assistant professor of finance at Babson College. “I strongly believe that no one owns knowledge. This belief shapes my view that there is no hierarchy in the relationship between a professor and their students,” he continued. “I enter the classroom as one of the students, ready to share my understanding and perspectives on certain topics with my friends in the class. I am at my happiest when my ‘friends’ challenge my views, because their questions and insights push everyone to think more deeply.”
His openness to learn and to push his students to think more deeply has earned him a prestigious recognition. Ahmed recently was named to Poets & Quants’ list of 50 Best Undergraduate Business Professors of 2025. He was selected from more than 1,200 nominations, and Babson was one of 45 schools, including six international schools, represented in the eighth edition of the list.
“You will learn just as much from your students as they learn from you.”
Ahmed Ahmed, assistant professor of finance
Ahmed holds a PhD in economics from the University of Chicago, a master’s in finance from MIT, a master’s in mathematics from the University of Waterloo, and a bachelor’s degree from the American University in Cairo. He also is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA).
Ahmed’s expansive professional experience spans leading global institutions, including as a senior quantitative analyst at Goldman Sachs. His policy experience includes working at the Bank for International Settlements, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the United Nations Development Programme. And his primary research fields of interest are intermediary asset pricing, international finance, and public-corporate finance.
This year, Ahmed also was chosen by the Class of 2025 as the Undergraduate Faculty of the Year, and he received the Deans’ Award for Excellence in Service. He also has been honored as a Career Champion by the Hoffman Family Undergraduate Center for Career Development.
Here are five more highlights that Ahmed shared in his Poets & Quants profile:
His Nickname Was “Dr. Ahmed”
Ahmed says he knew he wanted to be a business school professor when he was a child, because he grew up admiring his father, who was a professor of medicine, and his uncle, who was a professor of chemistry.
“I enjoyed watching them research fascinating topics in their respective fields and, most importantly, witnessing their generosity with their time and support for their students,” Ahmed said. “My father’s kindness and devotion to his own patients also left a lasting impression on me, showing me the importance of empathy and integrity in both personal and professional life. These moments stayed with me and inspired me deeply. The spirit of teaching, care, and mentorship that I observed in them grew within me throughout middle school, high school, and college. I still fondly remember how my family used to call me ‘Dr. Ahmed’ when I was a child, and that nickname still encourages me today.”
A Future Ted Lasso?
A passionate soccer fan, Ahmed has a soft spot for the underdogs. He says if he weren’t a business school professor, he would want to be the coach of an underdog soccer team.
“I would hope to build a strong and united team from limited resources,” he said. “I have a deep love for underdog teams and feel inspired by their stories of achieving great success despite humble beginnings. They usually make you cry most of the time, but I cannot help admiring them.”
Reflecting, Exploring, Connecting
In addition to soccer, Ahmed has a host of other interesting hobbies.
“Outside the classroom, I enjoy activities that combine reflection, exploration, and connection,” he said. “I love walking through the old parts of cities, strolling in parks, and along rivers, and meeting people with different stories and backgrounds along the way. … Reading widely, exploring new ideas, and spending quality time with family and friends are other sources of joy. These hobbies keep me energized, curious, and ready to bring the same enthusiasm into the classroom.”
Reaching Full Potential
Ahmed’s admiration for his students and their development tops everything—the good and the challenging.
What does he enjoy most about teaching business students? “Seeing them grow, especially those who initially struggle. Like a tree slowly reaching toward the sun, I find it deeply rewarding to watch their confidence and abilities develop over time. Guiding them through challenges and witnessing their transformation into capable, thoughtful, and independent thinkers is the part of teaching I cherish the most.”
And, what is most challenging? “Helping a diverse group of students, each with different abilities, experiences, and backgrounds reach their full potential at their own pace. I enjoy this challenge because it requires empathy, creativity, and adaptability to connect with every student. Turning this diversity into a dynamic and supportive learning experience is what makes teaching truly fulfilling.”
A Timeless and Inspiring Film
Ahmed’s favorite movie is El Nazer, an Arabic comedy he first saw when he was 7 and whose title roughly translates to “The School Principal,” or “The Headmaster.”
“What I enjoyed most about the movie is how it illustrates that building a strong and capable generation of students comes not through force, but through encouragement, motivation, and attention,” he said. “The lessons it conveys resonate deeply with me as a professor: What can be achieved through inspiration and support can never be matched by pressure, no matter what the starting point. The humor is timeless as well, and many popular Arabic comedy memes today actually come from this film.”
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