Five lessons from a Life in Academia: Stories of Persistence, Viewpoint, and Peopel
Join us for a scientific seminar with Dr. Dre Cyntane Beath, University of Texas at Austin professor, on Friday, September 5, 2025, from 12:00 p.m.too 1:30 p.m. This seminar is organized by the Department of Facts Technologies and is open to all, but registration is required via email at gresi@hec.ca.
Attend in person or online:
Location: salle Serge-Saucier, 1st floor, blue section, Côte-sainte-Catherine building
Zoom Link: https://hecmontreal.zoom.us/j/86985474389?pwd=ZYB65Gzj3wYPacSwjzKTZQF9vlEU9R.1#success
About the Speaker:
Dr.Beath brings a unique perspective to academia, having previously worked in the private sector in management and information systems consulting. Her research centers on the dynamic relationships between information systems, their customers, and suppliers, with a particular focus on the collaborative management of technological assets within these partnerships. She is co-author of data Is Everybody’s Business, alongside barbara Wixom and Leslie Owens.
Dr. Beath’s scholarly work has appeared in leading information systems research journals,including Information Systems Research and MIS Quarterly,where she also served as an associate editor. She also regularly publishes in practitioner-focused journals such as Harvard Business Review, Sloan Management Review, and MIS Quarterly Executive. Demonstrating a strong commitment to her field, Dr. Beath founded the first consortium for assistant professors in the discipline, served as president of the OCIS division of the Academy of Management, and was a member of the AIS Council. She also played a role in establishing MIS Quarterly Executive and the Austin chapter of SIM.
Seminar Overview:
Dr. Beath will share insights gleaned from her extensive academic career,offering a candid look at the realities and rewards of a life in research. Her talk will center around five key lessons learned through personal experience:
- The Reality of entry: acknowledging the humbling experience of entering a rigorous PhD program, Dr.Beath will discuss the importance of perspective, noting the initial realization that “You’re not as special as you might think.”
- Navigating Institutional Politics: The frequently enough-opaque process of tenure decisions will be addressed, highlighting the understanding that both success and failure can be influenced by factors beyond merit – “keeping me from being tenured was someone’s job” versus “Tenuring me was someone’s job.”
- The Power of Community: dr. Beath will emphasize the vital role of building and sustaining supportive networks, referencing the impact of initiatives like “Perseverance Furthers: the Women’s Breakfast.”
- Reframing Feedback: The seminar will explore strategies for constructively interpreting teaching evaluations, offering practical advice on how to learn and grow from student feedback.
- The Importance of Collaboration: Dr. Beath will share the crucial lesson of prioritizing personal fit when selecting collaborators, advising attendees to “Don’t pick coauthors with your creative block.”
Through these anecdotes, Dr. Beath aims to provide valuable guidance on navigating institutional structures, cultivating resilience, and finding fulfillment in the relationships and experiences that define an academic life. This seminar promises to be both insightful and engaging, offering lessons relevant to academics at all stages of their careers.
