HBS faculty comprises more than 300 scholars and practitioners who bring leading-edge research, extensive experience, and deep insights into the classroom, to organizations, and to leaders across the globe. We asked new faculty at HBS about their background, their new roles, and their interests.
Natalia Garbiras-Díaz; assistant professor; Business, Government and the International Economy
What is your educational background?
I did a large part of my studies at the Universidad de Los Andes in Bogota, Colombia, where I received a BA in economics and political science, and then an MA in economics. After finishing my master’s degree, I started working first with the Colombian government and then with the World Bank in Washington, DC. It was then that I decided to pursue my doctoral studies and began a PhD in political science at the University of California at Berkeley. After finishing my PhD, I moved to Florence, where I was a Max Weber Postdoctoral Fellow for two years before moving to Boston to start at HBS.
What’s your area of research and what led you to it?
I have three research programs. First, I study anti-establishment politics. For example, how citizens and candidates behave in the context of high anti-establishment sentiments, or what kinds of institutions can help outsider candidates who rally around these sentiments win elections. Second, I examine how states can secure their paths to stable democracy in post-conflict settings. I focus on the role of civilians, elites, and former combatants in this process. The third agenda focuses on political economy more broadly, in particular the role of ICTS in solving governance problems such as electoral irregularities or overburdened bureaucracies.
What will you be teaching?
I will be teaching Business, Government, and the International Economy in the RC.
What would you be doing if you weren’t an academic?
I think there are a number of possible alternative paths I could have taken. But I have to admit that I have always been drawn to politics, so either working in politics or being a political consultant. Otherwise, I would say working in a technical office in the Colombian government.
Where are you from?
I am from Bogota, Colombia.
What is something you like to do outside of your academic work?
Outside of work, I love hiking—exploring nature in general—and traveling. Whenever I get the chance, I try to escape for a nice trip or back to Colombia, which has an infinite number of really beautiful destinations.
What’s your favorite book, movie, or piece of art?
I really enjoy reading literature, so it is hard to pick one. But I recently finished a really good one by Leonardo Padura, El Hombre Que Amaba a los Perros. I loved the way he told the stories and how he managed to tie them together. Highly recommended.
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