Frances Valintine
on Embracing with Curiosity the Future of Education
“This is not a world of answers, this is a world of questions.”
Curiosity, experimentation and creativity have been the not-so-secret ingredients of Frances Valintine’s upbringing. Never afraid to go down the unknown and explore the uncharted path, she fed this fearless childhood spirit with an everlasting feeling there was so much to be discovered in the world.
Later on, all these turned into entrepreneurial skills when Frances became a passionate educator and technologist dedicated to creating innovative opportunities that connect professionals to the knowledge and mindset needed to respond to the future of work: "I wanted to create a company where kids could fail but where they could learn from that experience."
The idea behind creating The Mind Lab was fueled by Frances’s questioning why schools “aren’t bringing global experts into the classroom or why aren’t they exploring things differently instead of going back to textbooks?” This philosophy became the pillar of academyEX, a post-graduate institute focused on professional development and knowledge in technology, innovation, education, sustainability and leadership: “Never stop being curious. Never stop asking questions. Never make assumptions.”
Frances understood another vital thing: teachers must also be equipped with excitement, and a hunger to learn, revive and renew. They also need stimulation for growth, as they serve as the power of example, being a key part of building children's confidence: "When you invigorate teachers to learn again, it changes their outlook. They get the learning bug." She has been named a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and inducted into the New Zealand Hall of Fame for Women Entrepreneurs, receiving numerous awards recognizing her commitment to innovating education. Frances is part of The Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation and a director of On Being Bold, supporting emerging female leaders to aim high and dream big.
Her vision is to popularize the concept of "positive education", where kids gain credits for their unique strengths and where complexity is key: “Do what you can to diversify your skillset. Develop yourself and make sure you’re adding to a portfolio of skills. Don’t do it for a reward or a qualification. Do it because you’re curious. Curious people are interesting people to be around!”
In her book, “Future You”, Frances encourages young readers to ponder on their trajectory in life, daring all of us to be open-minded and open-hearted: “Whenever I have an idea, I tell as many people as I can. By telling people, you’re making it real. Many people never share it for fear someone will copy their idea. I don’t think people steal ideas. It takes a lot of energy to breathe life into someone else’s idea.”
Read Frances Valintine’s answers for Inspirators and let curiosity lead you!
Thank you, Frances, for being an Education Shaker!
#INSPIRATORS QUESTIONNAIRE
Name: Frances Valintine
Company / Institution: academyEX
(Mind Lab, Tech Futures Lab, Earth Futures Lab & academyEX.com)
Title: Founder and Board Director
Website: www.academyex.com
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesvalintine/
Country of origin: New Zealand
Country you currently live in: New Zealand
Your definition of Regeneration: The renewal or restoration of ecosystems, communities and people supporting resilience today and into the future.
Main business challenge you face: Professionals who believe the skills that got them to where they are will continue to be relevant in the future.
The main driver that keeps you going: A belief in knowledge and learning and the ability of new information to benefit all.
The trait you are most proud of in yourself: Resilience and determination.
The trait you most value in others: Honesty.
Passions & little things that bring you joy: All forms of art and simplicity.
The Inspirators who determined you to take the regenerative path: Rather than particular individuals, I am highly motivated by what we can learn from Indigenous cultures and their multi-generational view of the world and the decisions made. I believe if we move away from short-term gains and focus on 50, 100 or 200-year horizons, we will make better decisions.
A starting point for companies or professionals that are beginning the regeneration journey: The realisation that humankind can make a difference through even the smallest changes.
Most used and abused clichés in sustainability that bother you:
The term "eco-friendly". The worst kind of greenwashing!
An honest piece of advice for young people who lose hope: The planet has been around for billions of years and through multiple interactions. Nature is incredibly robust and able to self-heal even after the worst atrocities created by humankind. With action, we can turn the tide on global warming.
Books that had a great impact on you / Must-Reads for any regenerative professional: Biomimicry - Innovation Inspired by Nature by Janine Benyus.
Movies / Documentaries you would watch all over again:
The Biggest Little Farm 2018, 2040 - 2019.
Websites / Podcasts you visit frequently: permaculturenews.org, regenfound.org, The Circular Economy Podcast.
Music that makes you (and your heart) sing: All music. It’s all about the mood I am in.
Places you traveled to that left a mark on you: Antarctica, Costa Rica, Yap and Oman.
Global Regenerative Voices you recommend us to follow:
Dr Vandana Shiva
Paul Hawken
Trends in Regeneration we should keep an eye on: Sponge cities that are more resilient in extreme weather, Bio-inspired design, Urban Regeneration and Water Stewardship.
Events we should attend / Best places for networking (online or offline):
The Sustainability Consortium
Bioneers conference
Regenerative Earth Summit
Reasons to feel optimistic about our future in 2030: Gen Z and the Alpha Generation are driven by a collective cause in a way older generations are not. The emergence of new economic models that put the environment and people at the heart of decision-making.
Reasons to feel pessimistic about our future in 2030: The influence of leaders who are driven by the continuation of endless growth, and those who do not address equity issues or the dominance of oil companies .
Regenerative Leadership qualities much needed today: Perseverance, optimism, empathy and curiosity.
The Inspirator you are endorsing for a future edition is:
Rebecca Mills (The Lever Room)
The quote that inspires you:
"Consider this: all the ants on the planet, taken together, have a biomass greater than that of humans. Ants have been incredibly industrious for millions of years. Yet their productiveness nourishes plants, animals, and soil. Human industry has been in full swing for little over a century, yet it has brought about a decline in almost every ecosystem on the planet. Nature doesn’t have a design problem. People do.” (William McDonough, Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things)
Your quote that will inspire us:
