I’m pretty sure this picture gives the impression that I’m heading back into full-time authorship. But that’s not the story behind it. Check out my October recap to find out what it has to do with quiet quitting and a reused Roman stone.
Four events in four days on behalf of IKEM – from PFAS and smart materials to future pharma skills and international perspectives on industry change. Great fun! And on top of it meeting my readers in France
What does a World Heritage copper mine in Norway have to do with pharmaceutical skills in 2030? Read my August recap to find out. I share updates from the ChemSkills project (on behalf of IKEM), reflections on how industries rise or fall – and a few photos from above and below the surface.
What do Victorian cemeteries and pharma business models have in common?
Sometimes, even the most stable-looking industries fail when they stop adapting. In this month’s recap (previously published on LinkedIn), I reflect on skill needs in the chemical sector, recycled crisis talk – and a surprisingly beautiful graveyard outside Bristol.
In my June recap, I reflect on how we relate to deadlines.
Some of us thrive on last-minute pressure. Others – like me – prefer to trick ourselves into starting early. A recent project meeting made me think about the different ways we get things done, and how a bit of self-awareness (and teamwork) can make all the difference.
May turned out to be a month of waiting — for green lights and go-aheads that didn’t quite come. Instead of sitting still, I accepted an invitation to work from Corsica, mixing Teams calls with exploring. And just as the month was ending, my long awaited new book finally arrived from the printer — along with the first enthusiastic comments from readers.
What’s really the safest path these days — one full-time job or several smaller ones? That’s one of the topics in this recap, along with how a photo from Paris can give the wrong impression.
The highlight of the month was sending a long-awaited book to print, fifteen years after I first started it. About time, if I want to keep my tagline I get things done.
We often talk about how to say no (and that’s something I really need to practice). But this month I wanted to focus on the times when saying yes has turned out well. Like twelve years ago, when I was asked to write a travel guide to Nice — and now I’m holding yet another updated edition in my hands. Or when I said yes to another EU-funded project, which meant I went to Brussels twice this month. Some choices really do age well.
A photo can be misleading — it may look like I’m on holiday, but behind the scenes I was juggling EU-funded projects and books. One of them explores how history changes depending on who holds the pen — a reminder that perspective matters. And everything I do keeps reinforcing my belief that European collaboration is more important than ever. From medieval forts to horse sledges in Norway, it was business as usual.
The new year started with unexpected colours — the most vivid aurora I’ve ever seen. With it came a clear resolution: this will be the year I publish not one but two books, alongside my other assignments. I’ve decided it will be a fantastic year — because I’ll make it so.