Worcester Business Journal

OUTSTANDING WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS F O C U S Jean Beaupre Dean for the School of Business, associate professor Nichols College, in Dudley Residence: Thompson, Connecticut Education: Bachelor's degree in marketing from Providence College; master's degree in corporate and organization communication and doctor of education in organizational lead- ership from Northeastern University Who is your hero? There are many who inspire me, and I am fortunate that I can count my parents among them. Through their daily example, I learned the value in living a life of service, hard work, curiosity, and humor. Since you started your career, how have things changed for women in the profes- sional world? The prototypical leader is no longer clearly male; women are now referred to as the CEO, not the female CEO. More women are entrepreneurs and working in fields tradi- tionally male dominated, which is expanding opportunities for the next generation. What obstacles do women in the workplace face today? Significant progress has been made, but in many workplaces women must still navigate the gendered expectations of leadership. Research is shedding light on the impact of the non-promotable invisible work women are more likely to perform, as well as the complex interplay of confidence and competence. BY MICA KANNER-MASCOLO WBJ Staff Writer W itnessing the excite- ment and passion of her students has yet to grow old for Jean Beaupre, who is start- ing her 14th year at Nichols College. "e college-age population is so amazing to work with because they come with their own life and personality and ambitions and aspirations; but they also come with their questions, and they're still forming their career path," said Beaupre. "e time of their lives that our students are here is so pivotal to them, so it's a privilege that I don't take for granted to connect with students." Since joining the Dudley school in 2011, Beaupre has advanced in what she refers to as a natural evolution from her starting position as an adjunct faculty member to where she sits today as dean of the School of Business. Whether it's creating entrepreneur- ial opportunities for her students or spearheading initiatives to promote the success of women in business, Beaupre's work has centered curiosity and the importance of being a lifelong learner. Before entering academia, Beaupre co-founded Smith & Jones, a Sturbridge marketing agency she opened with lifelong friend Chris Tieri. Since the firm opened in 1995, Tieri said Beaupre's integrity as a leader has been clear. "She goes above and beyond to make sure that she's done the best job possible, and it never wavers. at's a constant with her," said Tieri, who now serves as chief advancement officer at the Old Sturbridge Village museum. "[Every client] got the best that we had to offer, and that was because she was rolling up sleeves and demanding it of herself." Making the transition from market- ing to academia aer 15 years with her agency wasn't as big of a leap as some might think. Working on the service side of Smith & Jones, Beaupre's role oen included educating her clients on the possibilities of their marketing plans and strategies, experience which helped her as she switched to higher education. Two years aer joining Nichols, Beaupre became the founding director of the college's Institute for Women's Leadership. Working together with her colleagues, she developed the institute's strategic plan and its mission: to cultivate the potential of female students and act as a resource and authoritative voice on women's leadership. Today, ILW offers events and workshops and provides networking and mentoring opportunities for Nichols students. Following the suggestion of Nichols' then president and board members, in 2015 Beaupre co-created the ILW's Mas- sachusetts Women's Leadership Index, a biennial report tracking the progress of women in power throughout private, public, and nonprofit organizations. "She's helped Nichols become rec- ognized in the state as an authority on women's leadership," said Leslee Ruggeri, current director of the Institute for Women's Leadership. As part of her commitment to open doors for the students of Nichols, Beaupre chaired the committee that implemented the college's first Research, Experiential & Applied Learning Sym- posium in 2023. e annual conference celebrates the work of students and fac- ulty, with keynote speakers and breakout sessions where students present their work and projects. "She's really just a huge motivator and a positive spirit for [students] that they can do anything that they want to do," said Ruggeri. ough Beaupre is quick to acknowl- edge there are many exceptional male mentors, she said there is a special quality to the relationship between a female mentor and mentee, especially in a sector like business which can be male-dominated. "at woman-to-woman connection can really help understand the challenges that women will face in the workplace [and give] young women the confi- dence and permission to develop their own unique leadership style that is authentic to them," said Beaupre. A key insight Beaupre works to convey to her mentees is there isn't a roadmap to success once they leave Nichols and enter the professional workforce. ey need to take the initiative in their careers to move forward. "Your boss is probably not going to put in front of you exactly what you need to do to be successful. So you have the ideas within you, you have control over that," she said "Recognize your own strengths and build on them and share them and bring your ideas to the table." Beaupre has became an authority on leadership W wbjournal.com | September 30, 2024 | Worcester Business Journal 11 PHOTO | MATT WRIGHT

• Cover