A bio box for Jean Beaupre
Updated: September 30, 2024
Outstanding Women in Business: Beaupre has become an authority on leadership
Photo | MATT WRIGHT
Jean Beaupre, dean for the School of Business and associate professor at Nichols College
Witnessing the excitement and passion of her students has yet to grow old for Jean Beaupre, who is starting her 14th year at Nichols College.
“The 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. “The 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 entrepreneurial 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. That'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 marketing to academia after 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 often 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 after 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 Massachusetts 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 recognized 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 Symposium in 2023. The annual conference celebrates the work of students and faculty, 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.
Though Beaupre is quick to acknowledge 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.
“That woman-to-woman connection can really help understand the challenges that women will face in the workplace [and give] young women the confidence 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. They 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.”
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.
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