For our Inspirational Women Shaping The Future Of Business Education series we speak to Imen Mejri, Director of the Programme Grande Ecole and professor of Finance at NEOMA Business School
- Name: Imen Mejri
- Job title: Director of the Programme Grande Ecole and Professor of Finance
- Institution: NEOMA Business School
Imen Mejri is the Director of the Programme Grande Ecole (Master in Management) and professor of Finance at NEOMA Business School. She conducts research on innovative corporate financing, in particular Crowdfunding, Private Equity, and alternative debt contracts.
Mejri is a member of the Association Française de Finance, the European Financial Management Association, and the International Academic Association of Governance.
Why do you work in education?
For me, working in higher education is first and foremost a vocation and a passion. From my early days as a finance teacher, and now as Programme Director, I have always believed in the transformative power of education. It is a powerful lever, capable of changing lives and offering each individual the opportunity to fulfil their potential. It helps to shape responsible citizens who are ready to get involved and have a positive impact on society. I am delighted to have the opportunity to make my own modest contribution to this very important project.
What’s the most rewarding part of your role?
‘What gratifies me most is seeing the students evolve. Every day, I’m lucky enough to see them grow, acquire new skills and blossom along the way. When I see them ready to take on the challenges of the professional world, it confirms me in my mission. Their success is the greatest reward for me.
And then there’s another aspect that motivates me enormously: working in such a stimulating intellectual environment with passionate and brilliant teams. The education sector is constantly changing and always reinventing itself. This creates an incredible dynamic and forces me to be constantly on the move, looking for new ideas to improve our programme and better support our students.
Please tell us about a challenge you’ve overcome to get to where you are today. What did you learn?
One of the major challenges I overcame in my career was to steer the in-depth overhaul of the Grande Ecole programme two years ago.
This major transformation involved leading a team through a period of significant change, both in terms of organisation and teaching. Over and above management, we had to reimagine the way we taught, rethink our processes and support students in a constantly changing environment. It was a major challenge, but also an opportunity to learn. What I took away was the importance of resilience, transparency and listening. It’s essential to be able to anticipate and adapt quickly, but also to be able to unite a team around a transformation project.
“I have always believed in the transformative power of education. It is a powerful lever, capable of changing lives and offering each individual the opportunity to fulfil their potential.”
– Imen Mejri
Another key challenge in my career has been to be a woman in a historically male-dominated environment – first as a finance professor, then as Director of the Grande Ecole programme. However, every day this gives me the opportunity to promote gender equality!
Have you ever had a role model? If yes, who? And how have they impacted your career or outlook?
My inspirational role model is simply my father. Although he was from a different generation and culture, he believed deeply in gender equality. He taught me that, as a girl and then as a woman, I can and must have the same rights and obligations as my brother, my friends and my male colleagues.
For him, education is the primary factor in promoting equality between women and men. He instilled this culture of equality in me throughout my academic career and never ceased to encourage me to take up the various professional challenges that followed.
What advice would you give to others to succeed in their careers?
My first piece of advice would be to never stop learning. The world is changing so fast that it’s crucial to remain curious and always seek to renew yourself. You can’t succeed in the long term if you don’t adapt.
Secondly, perseverance is essential. The road to success is never a straight line; there will be obstacles. But every difficulty can be an opportunity to learn something new.
Finally, another fundamental point is never to underestimate the importance of human relationships. Networking is vital. Listening to others, knowing how to collaborate and being part of a team makes all the difference. Success is rarely an individual affair, it’s a question of solidarity and collaboration.
Interested in this series? Keep reading…