Florence Palpacuer, Prof. of Management Studies

I am a professor at a public university in France in management studies, doing research on organizations and management topics, teaching students on the basis of what I’ve learned doing research, and setting up programs for them with other professors and professionals from outside the university.

My job is both local (I bike from home to the university) and global (I travel to conferences and exchange emails with people in other countries on a daily basis). I came to this job a little bit by chance, as it often happens.

I was interested since my late high school years in broad socioeconomic issues, for one thing, and opportunities have expanded for management-related jobs and careers. I trained in economics but to go into this type of career you can also train in sociology, psychology, law, or even history, thus gaining a broader background on social issues before focusing on  management.

This may not be a standard curriculum, but it’s one that will make you open-minded  and creative in teaching, research, or professional management practice. I see my contribution to society primarily in terms of raising awareness on management topics.

While the primacy of profitmaking over human values is taken for granted in a lot of management teaching and practices, I’m part of the people who train students and write books showing that such choice brings a lot of human suffering and that as a choice it can be questioned, and changed, in order to put human values before profits. We need more people, in management circles as elsewhere, to see the world this way in order to make it a better place.

This job stimulates my personal growth because the ultimate purpose is about people welfare, because I’m always sharing experiences and thoughts with other people, and my own understanding evolves and deepens overtime. In my current research project, for instance, I interview people around Europe who devoted their life and energy to improve conditions for women workers in the global clothing industry, using innovative forms of organization and management for doing so.

These are wonderful, highly dedicated people and I learn a lot from them. Then I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned through teaching and helping students develop their own thinking and research in related areas.

Being a public servant is also a wonderful opportunity in my opinion, because you are providing a public good rather than serving particular interests. We need more people with strong values to go into management careers, or management teaching and research, to put human values before profits in the running of organizations.

Prof. Palpacuer recently sat down with an AYUDH member to provide us with some quick career tip advice.

Q: What has helped you the most in your caree?

A: Honesty. Trying to be as honest as possible with myself and other people in facing problems and opportunities that came along the way.

Q: What should you do every day?

A: Have all my thoughts and movements connected to my deepest inner self.

Q: What should you never do?

A: Let fears take over in guiding my thoughts and movements.

Q: What is your favorite quote?

A: “Love each other as I have loved you” (Jesus)

Q: In which situations do you feel Amma’s presence during your work?

A: I have Amma’s picture near my computer both at home and at the university, and I often connect with Her during the day. Just before making a public address I also meditate a little bit so as to let Her inspire my talk. Whenever I feel uncomfortable, I try to see the situation from my inner self, or from Her perspective, to find an appropriate response. Sometimes when I’m teaching, I can feel a true connection between all the students, when we really get to feel how important human values are and that we need to be true to ourselves and others. No doubt Amma’s there at these moments!