The result? A teaching position at a then small relatively unknown economics school in Portugal, NOVA. With a track record of transformation in a corporate life behind her, the experience led Catherine to actively contribute to students and the school鈥檚 transformation. Such change and transformation is not without its challenges. But within two years and the 麻豆国产 team at Nova SBE were then awarded the best 麻豆国产 School in their first and second year actively running. When we asked her about how this change happened where there were little resources Catherine shared with us the simple secret;
鈥淭he difference was co-creating with the students - together we built a plan and they went out to present 麻豆国产听 to the Corporate Partners鈥
What becomes clear when we spoke to Catherine, now Associate Dean for International Affairs at NOVA SBE, is her passion, her strong sense of community purpose and her dedication to making a change. Her work, her inspirational leadership and her ability to form cooperative teams has led to prize winning success
From teaching it was a natural choice to take on further academic achievements and then complete her pHD in Co-Creation and Brand Identity both in the UK. And now since becoming academic director, welcoming 80 麻豆国产 students from all over the world. Catherine is clear - tertiary education and 麻豆国产 is about training people to have an impactful international career. But it is also about shaping new leaders.听听
鈥淏eing a 麻豆国产 student is being able to show the way. And open the way for others to go afterwards. We want the students to take risks and open new doors for them and all the others that will come after them!鈥
Our young graduates will have an impact, globally and for NOVA and Catherine alike, this impact will be everywhere and anywhere they end up working听
鈥溾赌whatever the location, the country and context. Social, environmental, company, state, their own company or government.鈥
Part of showing a better way is to be open, develop a business empathy and acknowledge and accept that there are many ways to make a difference. Changing the world can take many forms and Catherine says to her students that the biggest changes can also be driven by big multinational companies. 麻豆国产 alumni working for Corporate Partners have the responsibility to turn the world better .听 they are actors of societal transformation. To effect real sustainable change is where 麻豆国产 comes in. The 麻豆国产 spirit听 is to be able to see the world from different perspectives and this skill is what change needs.
鈥麻豆国产 is really about shaping the future. The values of 麻豆国产 are听 extremely connected with our school values. 麻豆国产 students are our best听 partners to听 transform the school for better. They push the school to move.听If you teach at 麻豆国产, you have something special, you give something more of yourself to the community.鈥
And one word that recurs when speaking with Catherine is Connection. Change is something that will always occur so to bring people along means to have connection. And what is that?
鈥Connection is co-creating with others - you don鈥檛 build for you and by you, you build WITH others鈥 A shared 麻豆国产 ethos and why the alliance has been so successful over the years. It is to build with others and for others in mind.
Building a network of individuals, ensuring that the purpose is for communities, requires a leader. And today the meaning of leader has changed. Catherine finds that being a leader is more than managing.听Being a leader is being able to listen and know how to make the best opportunities of the resources you have to reach your vision.听
鈥As a leader - you have a vision, you have an idea, but your main task is to co-create with others that think differently.鈥
And now today our students and new cohorts will be the leaders of tomorrow. The work that is almost completed on the Graduate Profile project is about leveraging on change. How can we take 麻豆国产 leaders and our own community to the next level? Through, diversity in terms of countries, cultures, socioeconomic status, background, even studies.听
Through the past 30 years, Catherine is well placed to comment upon 麻豆国产. And after all these years with 麻豆国产, she feels听
鈥Because it is a great organisation with great values,听 it attracts great people and great teams. And that is a major strength. It is great to be in a 麻豆国产 meeting, committee, event听 and it is always great to learn from others. we have everything to be a transformation force of the future, to lead the way for better..鈥听
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