The question

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

This is a standing question in The Guardian's decades-long The Q&A and also recurs independently in career and life interviews.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Hanna Tetteh

UN Special Representative for Libya; former Foreign Minister of Ghana

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here
Politics was always present in Hanna Tetteh's house growing up. Inspired by a dual heritage rooted in Hungary and Ghana, she became a passionate advocate of inclusive dialogue.

United Nations podcast, 23 June 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 257 →
Chris Hoy British track cyclist, 1994–2013
Scotland’s rugby captain. My hero Gavin Hastings was captain when he came to our school for a training session when I was 10 or 11. I met him and was blown away.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 February 2018 source ↗
Emilia Fox English actress and presenter
A cellist, inspired by my mum and dad’s friendship with Jacqueline du Pré, and seeing a documentary about her.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 October 2018 source ↗
Joss Stone English singer, songwriter, and actress
A veterinarian, but I decided against it because it required too many years of schooling; I wasn’t great at school.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 April 2021 source ↗
Martin Sheen American actor
Golfer, priest, police officer, teacher and, after going to the movies, actor.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 March 2017 source ↗

More from Hanna Tetteh

View profile →
Question What does love feel like? Relationships
I have to be optimistic. Otherwise I'll stop. And I think that when you're doing this kind of job, you have to keep yourself optimistic. You always have to find openings and entry points and try to see what you can work with and where you can create some opportunity to have a conversation that results in some concrete outcome.
Recorded United Nations podcast, 23 June 2026 source ↗
Question What is your greatest fear? Identity & self
I have to be optimistic. Otherwise I'll stop. And I think that when you're doing this kind of job, you have to keep yourself optimistic. You always have to find openings and entry points and try to see what you can work with and where you can create some opportunity to have a conversation that results in some concrete outcome.
Recorded United Nations podcast, 23 June 2026 source ↗

More on identity & self

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Malcolm Gladwell, Desmond Tutu, Gloria Steinem, Albie Sachs, Robert Peston, Zack Polanski

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