Women in Economics: Loretta Mester

June 19, 2018
Loretta Mester, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, talks with Maria Hasenstab of the St. Louis Fed about being a leader in the field of economics.

Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester (right) speaks with Maria Hasenstab at the St. Louis Fed

“We are identified as women in the field, and yet, we really want to be known as good in the field regardless of whether we’re a woman or a man,” says Loretta Mester (right). Mester is the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.* She talks with Maria Hasenstab, senior media relations specialist at the St. Louis Fed, about being a leader in the male-dominated field of economics. They also discuss Mester’s love of math, how she “lucked into economics,” the “publish or perish” mentality in the field, and her adjunct teaching experience at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. “You can have a pretty good life and an interesting career by doing economics.”

*Editor's Note: At the time of publication, Mester was president of the Cleveland Federal Reserve. Mester retired in June 2024.


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This podcast features conversations with women and underrepresented minorities who are making their marks in the field of economics. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the St. Louis Fed or Federal Reserve System.

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