A few years ago, I was thrilled to advise the management of an international school in South Asia. My mission was to assess the school’s image, establish a benchmarking analysis, and design a communication strategy for the way forward.
One of the major events covered by my strategy was a meeting between the school’s students and Jean Tirole, who won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2014. A renowned economist, Professor Tirole is best known for his analysis of market power and the regulation of natural monopolies.
The discussion was lively, enriching – and eye opening! I was struck by our honorable guest’s humility and down-to-earth demeanor. His responses were refreshingly candid while still being wonderfully insightful. It was also amazing to see how approachable he was. He welcomed the perspectives and opinions of the students, even though they were far younger and less experienced than him.
Observing Professor Tirole was like getting a masterclass in leadership. No matter how successful, accomplished and senior one might be, humility and honesty never go out of style. Those who are curious and open-minded approach life as an ongoing learning journey. They make it a point to meet other people on equal ground, thereby creating a space where knowledge can be shared and amplified.
The event was a success in all possible ways. Our social media coverage yielded excellent traction – an important goal of our communication plan. Seeing this, the school management was motivated to continue organizing extra-curricular activities and events that would foster a spirit of inquiry, inclusion and innovation among the student and parent community.
For me personally, the project proved to be doubly rewarding. Firstly, I got the satisfaction of helping the school identify their needs and constructing a strategic plan for their future success. And secondly, I received a fresh dose of inspiration when I witnessed first-hand the wisdom and approachability of Professor Tirole, a truly visionary leader indeed!
