Issue link: http://ncumarketing.uberflip.com/i/885867
It has been a good run... by Peter Bemski, PhD Vice President of International Initiatives They went by quickly! Three years as Dean. It has been quite a ride. I wonder what's next. Rather than reflect on the past, let's think about the future and how we are going to get there, individually and together. There are many trends. Let's mention a few. We know that technology is going to play an evolving role in our lives, and given that tech is an integral part of just about everything we do, you don't have to work in the sector to feel the impact. More tools will be available to us. I encourage you to embrace it. It is all about learning, reflecting, and acting. And you know that we are increasingly interconnected as a planet (that jet you just flew in was probably made with parts from 20 different countries). My new position as VP for International Initiatives reflects that. The history of humans has been one of ongoing globalization, and it continues today. Again, I encourage you to embrace it. It is all about learning, reflecting, and acting. Let's think about the nature of work, and our careers. Most of us have jobs, and we were hired for those jobs because in between our ears there is something the employer liked. Yet we often measure those we hire using BIS metrics (hint: the "I" stands for "in" and the "S" for "seats"). Imagine the difference it would make if we measured performance by how well employees contribute to our organizations through the use of their brains? While we are at it, why don't we take advantage of all those brains, no matter where they are on the org chart? Imagine how the nature of work might change if we recognized that each of us brings a unique perspective to the table, and that teamwork makes life easier all the way around. Work will become more flexible and more challenging. We will not only change jobs, we will likely change careers. Don't let what you have not learned define you. It is all about learning, reflecting, and acting. Over and over again. There are times when it is best to do it on our own, and more often it is best done in community. It has been a busy three years, and that is probably long enough, especially for my colleagues. I am excited about my new position as Vice President for International Initiatives, and am fortunate to be working with others to make plans that will further internationalize NCU. We welcome suggestions. Let's see what the next years bring.