Director Position Statement
International School of Prague Czech Republic July 2021
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OVERVIEW, MISSION AND VISION
“We Push Boundaries and Compete with the Best”
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TheInternationalSchoolofPraguemissionto“Inspire,Engage,andEmpower”isevidentinallcornersoftheschoolcommunity.Theeleganceofthethree-wordmissionresidesinthefactthatitisonthetipofthetongueofISP’syoungeststudentsandacrossstakeholdergroups.It’srealandframestheactionsofthishighlyaspirationalschool. Theleadershipofcurrentandlong-servingDirectorDr.ArnieBieberhasplacedISPinthevanguardofleadinginternationalschools.Thecurriculum,teachingpractices,facilities,andtheclimateforlearningaresolidlyalignedtobuildingcapacityforinnovationandchange.ThereispalpableenthusiasmandcommitmenttotheISP2020strategicdesign-thinkingplan,whichenlivenstheISPDefinitionofLearningandtheguidingsetofISPLearningPrinciples.Themissionandattendantdefinitionsandlearningprinciplesalignasthetemplatefordecisionmakingandactionsforschoolimprovement.OngoingdesignthinkingforinnovationisahallmarkofISP’squalityprogramming,andtheSchoolinvestsindevelopingcapacityforteachersandseniorleaderstoimplementkeyideasandnewlearningopportunities.TheLearningInquiryFocusTeams(LIFT)putcuriosityandactionresearchattheheartofrelevant,significant,andevidence-basedcontinuousprofessionalgrowthandlearning.
NovelwithinISPpracticesistheuseandpowerof“LearningStories”whicharenarrativesthatseektovalidatetheimpactofmission-driventeaching
MissionInspire–Engage–EmpowerTheISPDefinitionofLearningLearningisatransformativeprocessthatbuildsonwhatweknowandcando,deepenswhatweunderstand,andchangeswhoweare.ISPLearningPrinciples
• Learners’curiositydriveswhatandhowtheylearn.• Learnersknowwhatthey’relearningandwhyitis
significant.• Learnersknowwheretheyareaslearnersandhowto
gofurther.• Learnerspersistwithrelevantandrichchallenges.• Learnersconsiderandconnectcomplexideas.• Learnersapplytheirlearningindiverseand
challengingcontexts.• Learnersfeelasenseofsafetyandbelonging.
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andlearning.These“stories”provideameanstodocumentandconfirmtheimpactoftheSchool’smissionandthesuccessofISP2020onthegrowthofstudents,continuousdevelopmentofteachersandtheimportanceofpracticesthatcanconfirmthatISPisdevelopingfuture-readyyoungpeople.
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OneoftheoldestinternationalschoolsinEurope,theInternationalSchoolofPraguewasfoundedin1948bytheUSembassytoprimarilyservediplomaticandexpatriatefamilieslivinginthethenCzechoslovakia.Sincethattime,withover900studentsfromover60nationalities,theschoolhasgrownandflourishedtobecomeoneofthemosthighlyregardedinternationalschoolsintheworld.In2009,reflectingtheevolutionofthenCzechRepublictoavibrantdemocraticcountryandasamemberoftheEuropeanUnion,theschoolchangeditsstructurefromadiplomaticentitytoaprivatenonprofitindependentschool.TheschoolcontinuestoadjustitscorporatestructurestoreflecttheCzechRepublic'sevolvingalignmenttothelegalframeworkoftheEuropeanUnion.
LOCATION: “The City of a Hundred Spires”
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Prague,capitalcityoftheCzechRepublic,isbisectedbythestunningVltavaRiver.Knownas“theCityofaHundredSpires,”PragueisknownforitsOldTownSquare,theheartofitshistoric
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core,withcolorfulbaroquebuildings,GothicchurchesandthemedievalAstronomicalClock,whichgivesananimatedhourlyshow.Completedin1402,thepedestrianCharlesBridgeislinedwithstatuesofCatholicsaintsandfilled,dayandnight,withvisitorsandlocalswhouseandappreciatethissignaturefeatureofthecity.Pragueisnowthesixthmost-visitedcityinEurope,receivingwellover5million
visitorsayear.ThecitytickseveryboxontheEuropean“must-have”listfortravelers:fascinatinghistoryandarchitecture,dynamicartandmusicscenes,deliciouslocalfoodanddrink,affordableprices.Pragueappealsasithasdevelopedintoavibrant,modern,internationalcapitalcity,withgreatattractionfortravelersandresidentsalike.TheCzechstandardsforpersonalsafetyareequaltoanyEuropeancapitalcity.Giventheglobalsecuritychallenges,theCzechRepublicremainsasoneofthesafestplacesintheworld.Theeconomyisstrong,unemploymentislowandthecostoflivingisbelowthatofcomparablemajorEuropeancities.
HISTORY OF ISP
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InternationalSchoolofPrague–DirectorSearch
THE ISP COMMUNITY
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Students:ThestudentsatISParesignificantlydiverse.Noonenationalitydominatesthestudentpopulation:21%US,21%Czech,11%Russian,5%Korean,4%UK,2%eachofCanadian,Dutch,Israeli,Japanese,Polish,Spanish,andSwedish.Theadditional20%halefrom32othernationalities.85%ofstudentsdonotspeakEnglishastheirfirstlanguage.Asmightbeexpected,ISPgraduatespursueaworldwidearrayofcollegesanduniversitieswhentheyleaveISP,manychoosingtheUS,Europe,andtheUK,butmanyalsoinCanada,Australia,Korea,andothercountries.StudentsatISParequicktodescribetheschoolas“welcoming”and“likehome!”Theyfeelthattheirpeersareaccepting,andtheyappreciatethemanyopportunitiestheyhavetovoicetheiropinionsandtohaveanimpactontheschool.Artsanddramaprograms,athleticopportunities,ModelUnitedNations,experientialeducation,andnewelectivesprograms(fromShakespearetoFalconStudentsNews)keepstudentsengagedandinspired.Mostnoteworthy,studentsappreciatethebroadermissionoftheschool:“ISP’scultureandethosincludeintellectualreasoning,civicduty,andglobalcitizenship.”Anotherstudentlauded“themulticulturalenvironmentthatencouragescuriosityandaglobalmindset.Thisdefinitelyneedstoremain,asitiswhattrulymakesISPaspecialplace.”Faculty:ThefacultyatISPappreciatethehighleveloftrusttheyaregivenandthemultipleopportunitiestogrowprofessionally.Theyrespecteachotherandformcloseprofessionalandpersonalties.Multipletimes,facultyculturewasdescribedas“kindandcaring,”andwiththesamefrequency,facultymembersnotedwithpridethepushtopursuebestpracticesinteachingandlearning.Oneremarked,“Sometimesit’smessy,butthewordsaremorethanjustphrasesonthewall.ISPispreparedtoinnovate.”ManyapplaudedISPforcreatinga“positiveanddiverseculturethatreallydoesempowerstudentsandteachesthemtobelife-longlearners.”Theteamethosisevidentandclearlytranslatesintobuildingacollaborativecultureforthebenefitofstudentsaswellasteachers.Andlike
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thestudentdemographics,thefacultyiscomprisedofamultinationalcadre,reflectingtheinternationalcharacteroftheschool.Parents:TheparentsatISPenthuseabouttheschool,articulatingtheirappreciationbothfortheeducationaljourneyoftheirchildrenandfortheschool’scaringethos.TheirwordsillustratetheirvividunderstandingofwhatmakesISPspecial:“ISPisgoodatstayingattheforefrontofmethodsandstrategiesineducationtoday.”“Mostimportant,theschoolpreparesstudentsforlifewhilestillbeingabletoenjoyit.”“ISPisaninclusiveschoolwherekidsandparentsfromallovertheworldgathertolearn.”“ISPcultivatesthecultureofself-drivenlearners.”Theyappreciatetheirfellowparents:“Weareawarm,embracing,supportivecommunitythatholdseachotherintimesofneed.”AndISPparentsaptlydescribewhatISPistodayandwhattheschoolwillneedinitsnextdirector:“ISPhasbeenonalongsteadyjourneywithclearfocusandcommitmenttobeingaprogressive,learner&future-focused,constantlyimprovingschool.Findingsomeonewiththecapacity,courageofconvictionsanddepthofunderstandingtoleadinthesameveinwillbekey.”BoardofTrustees:ProfoundlyimportanttosuccessatISPistheroleclaritythatexistsacrossgovernanceandleadershipfunctionsoftheschool.Theschoolisguidedthroughpolicyandthegoodwillofaneleven-memberboardplustheDirectorandtwohonorarymembers.Votingmembersserveathree-yeartermandcangoverntwoconsecutiveterms.Strategicplanningisappropriatelycollaborativeandimpactful.TheBoardofTrusteesisclearandconfidentabouttheirspecificandcodifiedrolesandresponsibilitieswithastrongbiasforgoverningtheschoolstrategically,deliberately,andincollaborationwithleadershipteam.Trusteeslookforandsupportstrongleadershipfromthedirectorandrespondtorecommendationsfromseniorleadershipbalancedwithattentiontostudentandfinancialimpact.
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THE PROGRAM
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TheBoardclearlyseesthedirectorastheeducationalleader,guidedbythe“StrategicandFuture-FocusedGovernance”learningstory,anarrativeforexcellenceinschoolgovernance.Theboard’sown“learningstory”definestheday-to-dayimplementationoftheSchool’sBylaws.Theobservedespritdecorps,qualityofconversation,andproductivitybetweentrusteesandseniorleadershipspeakofauniquelypositiverelationship.Expectationsfordeliveringtop-flightprogramsandprofessionalperformancearesharedbyall.
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TheprogramatISPillustratesadeepcommitmenttotwoessentialquestions:“Whoisthischild?”and“Whatdoweneedtodoaseducatorstohelpthesechildrengrow?”Inquiry-based,theprogramemploysproject-basedlearningtomakeunitsofinquiryauthenticandmeaningful.Ineverygradethereistimeduringtheyearwherestudentsarepursuingtheirowninquiry.Forexample,Grade2studentsdesignedandputonaWellnessFair,Grade4delvedintothemeaningof“death”indifferentcultures,middleschoolstudentsexploredhowcodingisusedtodevelopvideogames.“Voiceandchoice”arehonoredintheclassroom,andstudentsareengagedinStretchDayswherestudentsareoffthetimetablesotheycanaccesslearningopportunitiesinPragueandbeyond.Studentstakedeepdivesintotheirlearning.Atthesametime,theISPprogramfostersandembedstheappropriatefoundationaldisciplinaryskillsacrosstheentirecurriculum.ThePK-12transdisciplinaryskillsandvaluesfromthemission(below)arethreadedthroughoutacademicstandardsandlearninghabits.
• Thinkcriticallyandcreatively• Workcooperativelyandindependently• Listenandcommunicateeffectively,and• Actwithcompassion,integrity,respect
andinterculturalunderstanding
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ISPisknownforbeingalearningcommunityfilledwithmotivated,passionate,andhighlyqualifiedteachersandleaders.TheSchoolisdescribedacrossconstituencygroupsascultivatingalearningclimatethatisbothinclusiveandinspirationaltoactivelearningacrossthecommunity.Oneofthebestdescriptionsofhowstudents,teachers,andleadersworktogetheristhatitisaplacethatbestoperatesfromaframeoftrust,empowerment,andanattitudeof“Let’sgetgoing!”
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Awell-resourcedintegratedtechnologyprogramwithiPadsintheearlieryearstoApplelaptopsinGrades4-12,ismaximizedwithsupportfromtechcoachesineachsectionoftheschool.TheschooliscommittedtoongoingdevelopmentofitsRoboticsprogramandcodingisintegratedintothecurriculumacrossgradelevels.TheEarlyChildhoodProgram,inspiredbyReggio-Emilia,isplay-basedandencouragesthinking,investigating,exploring,andproblem-solving,bothinsideandoutsideoftheclassroom.TheElementaryProgram,rootedinunitsofinquiry,developskeyknowledge,skills,andunderstandingsinliteracy,math,andthesocialandphysicalworld.StudentshavetheopportunitytolearntheCzechlanguage,GermanandSpanish.MiddleSchoolstudentsdevelopkeycompetenciesinavarietyofsubjectareasandlearntoapplyknowledgeandskillsinrealworldcontexts.LanguagesinMiddleSchoolincludeFrench,Spanish,Mandarin,or
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German.UpperSchoolstudentsworktowardachievingtheISPDiplomaandallmaychoosetopursuetheIBDiploma.ResultsontheIBDPfortheschoolareexcellent.
Theprofessionalcultureisobservablyfocusedoncontinuousimprovement,alwayslookingoutwardtoensurethoughtfulandresearch-basedconsiderationsforbest-in-classlearningopportunities.Thespiritofinnovationisenergizedbyanorganizationalculturethatinvites“prototyping”andtakingcalculatedriskinthenameofimprovingteachingandlearning.
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FINANCE AND FACILITIES FOR LEARNING
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students.Inrecentyears,advancementeffortshavealsobroughtinadditionalincome,withsupportfortheannualfundandendowmentgeneratingapproximately€240Kperyearoverthepastthreeyears,aswellas€250Kreceivedincontributions.Inaddition,theschoolhasalreadyreceivedsignificantpledgesanddonationsduringtheQuietPhaseofitsfirstCapitalCampaign.
Endowmentholdingsarecurrentlyintheamountof€700K.Inordertoallowforfurthergrowthofthisfund,theBoardcontinuestocommittobuildingtheprincipalamountwithoutdrawdown.ThePlacesandSpacesforLearningTheISPcampusisuniquelysuitedtoactivelearningandhowstudentsandtheirteacherscollaboratetogether.Aroundeverycorner,fromonehallwayandcommonsareatothenext,thereare“collaboratories,”quietstudynooksandcrannies,androomsdevotedto
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FinancialStrengthTheBoardofTrusteesandtheLeadershipTeamhaveensuredastrong,stable,andsustainablefinancialpicturetomeetthepromiseoftheschool'smission.TheInternationalSchoolofPrague(ISP)hasahistoryofoperatingwithpositivefinancialresults,limited-to-nodebt,whileattractingandretainingaworld-classfacultyanddeliveringatotalofover€7Mworthofcapitalinvestmentoverthepastsixyears,intoitspurpose-builtfacility.Itscurrent(2019-20)operatingbudgetstandsat€16Mwithaccountingdepreciationof€1.1M,andanticipatedoperatingrevenuesof€18M.ThemajorityofISPincomecomesfromtuitionandfeesgeneratedbytheenrolled900+
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individual,silentstudy,self-managedwithownershipandrespectbyISPstudents.Amasterplanguidesfacilitydevelopmentandwithoutanoteofcomplacency,theseniorleadershipandBoardcontinuetodiscusshowbesttobringadditionaldesignthinking,makerspaces,andcreationofadditionalmulti-disciplinelearningareas.Thecurrentconceptdesign(s)ofISP’smasterplanseeksto“Createdynamicandresponsivelearningenvironmentswhichbringtheschooltogetherasonelearningcommunity.TheSchool’sstrategicthinkinginISP2020alsodrivesfacilityrenovationandfreshdesignconcepts.Discussionsareongoingonhowbesttocontinuallyimprovespacesfor
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learning,whichareinformedbyeducationallydrivendesignideasalignedwiththemissionandlearningprinciples.ParticularlypleasingishowtheSchoolhascommittedtoproto-typingclassroomdesign,ensuringmaximumflexibilityofspaceusage.ThenewEarlyChildhoodrenovation,forexample,illustratescreativenewwaystoorganizelearningspaces.Informationtechnologyinfrastructureiswell-
fundedandsupportedasanessentialteachingandlearningtool.Buildingfromstrengthandreliability,theITenvironmentsupportsongoinginnovationandsophisticateduseofhardwareandrelevantsoftwareasan“amplifierforlearning.”
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QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF
YearISPEstablished: 1948
AccreditationAgency: ECIS,CIS,IB
TotalEnrollment: 909
ElementarySchoolEnrollment: 352
MiddleSchoolEnrollment: 242
UpperSchoolEnrollment: 315
PercentageofAnnualStudentTurnover: 16%
PercentageofStudentswithFinancialAwards: 0.5%(Scholarshipstudents)
Three-YearAverageofFacultyTurnover: 9%(12%forSupportStaff)
Student/TeacherRatio: Ave.8:1
Tuition(2019-20):
• PK€13,440(+€1,500CAF*)• K-Gr5€17,050(+€3,000CAF)• Gr6-8€18,480(+€3,000CAF)• Gr9-10€20,190(+€3,000CAF)• Gr11-12€20,840(+€3,000CAF)*CapitalAssessmentFee
OperatingBudget: €16,072,000
Reserve: €4,019,000
Endowment: €677,000
NumberofFaculty: 127(including12Administrators)
NumberofOperationalStaff: 91
NumberofBoardTrustees:11votingmembers,Director,plustwohonorarymembers
NumberofStudentNationalities: 60
AverageFacultyTenure: 7years(4yearsmedian)
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KEY LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES:
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ThenextleaderoftheInternationalSchoolofPraguewillhavetheopportunitytoprovideleadershipforawidelyrecognizedinternationalschool.InordertoservetheSchoolfullyandwell,thenextHeadofSchoolforISPwillbringasetofkeyleadershipskillsandattributestothework,asdescribedhere:• Innovativeeducationalleader.Leadsand
drivesacademicexcellence.Skilledandexperienced,thenextleaderofISPwillaspiretoimplementaworld-class,future-focusedprogram.Embedresearch-based,innovativepedagogyacrosstheschool,underscoringtheskillsstudentsneedfortheirfuturesuccess.
• StrategicThinking:Giventhecomplexand
aspirationalnatureoftheSchool,thenewleaderwillbeasystemsandstrategicthinkerwithatrackrecordforproactiveandcreativeproblem-solvingbyanticipatingissuesandconsequences.
• Recruiteroftalent:Abilitytoattract,
develop,andretainanoutstandingcadreoffacultymemberswhodemonstratetheenergy,training,andhumanitytodeliveranoutstandingprogramforallISPstudents.Trackrecordofsuccessinattracting,developing,andretaininganequallystrongleadershipteamthatpartnerseffectivelywiththeISPDirectortomanagetheorganization.
• Communitybuilder:Buildrelationships
withsensitivityandwarmthtobringtogetherthesignificantlydiverseISPcommunity.Furtheraschoolcultureofwidespreadengagementandcommitment.Ensureaclimateofresponsivenessandfollow-through.
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• Cultureofphilanthropy:Understandandimplementeffectivefundraisingstrategies,includingprogramsinannualandcapitalgivingaswellasmajorgiftstobuildthecultureofphilanthropyatISP.Articulatetheneedfor“time,treasure,andtalent”fromtheISPcommunity,growingthecapacityofallconstituenciestocontributetothesupportofenhancementstotheprogramatISP,frombuildingprojectstoscholarshipprograms.
• CompetitiveEdge:Enhancetheidentity,
valueproposition,andreputationofanISPeducationacrossthelocalcommunityandaroundtheworld.GenerateoutreachandcommunicationstrategiesthatcapturetheheartofanISPeducation.Deepenthequalityofholistic,innovative,andeffectiveprogramsandensureacompellingstoryofstudentachievementwithhigh-qualityuniversityadmissions.
• Effectivecommunication:Implementa
consistentandintentionalcommunicationmodelacrossconstituencies,inspiringcommitmenttothemission,clarifyingtherationalefordecisions,andbuildingsharedunderstandingsacrossdivisions.Abilitytolistenactivelyandspeakeffectivelyaspivotalcommunicationskillsforengagingtheinternalandexternalcommunities.
• ExecutiveExpertise:Leadan
internationally-minded,culturallycomplexorganization,balancingacademicexcellencewithoperationalefficiencyandeffectiveness.Bringinnovativespiritandenterprisebalancedwithstrategicleadershipandfinancialmanagement.Setkeyprioritiesforongoingmission-drivenimprovementandbringaddedcoherencetothesystemsandinfrastructureoftheschoolthroughthoughtfulanalysisandplanning.
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KEY PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL QUALITIES
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• ChangeLeadership:Provenabilitytosetkeyprioritiesforongoingmission-drivenimprovementandtocreatestrongcommunityawareness,knowledge,andrelationshipstoensureacoalitionofstakeholdersupportforprograminnovationandsustainableimplementation.
• ResponsetoGrowth:Trackrecordofestablishing
thesystemsandinfrastructuretoaddressenrollmentgrowth,achangingdemographicinapplicantpoolandtheprogrammaticneedsforscalingISP,Pre-K-12.
• GovernanceandCollaboration:Thecollaboration
betweentheBoardofTrusteesandtheschooldirectorhasresultedinremarkableschoolgrowthandimprovementoverthelastdecade.ThenextISPschooldirectorwillbringthedispositionsandtrackrecordforensuringagenerativeandcollaborativepartnershipwiththeBoardofTrusteestoensuretheSchoolremainsresponsiveandfullyabletodeliveronthepromiseofthemission.
InternationalSchoolofPrague–DirectorSearch
APPLICATIONPROCESS
Interestedcandidatesmayapplyonlineat:https://rg175.com/candidate/signup
Acompleteapplicationincludes:
● CoverletterexpressinginterestinthedirectorpositionattheInternationalSchoolofPrague● Fullyupdatedresume● Writingsamplethatmaybeapersonalstatement,anarticleforaschoolpublication,arecent
speech,orsubmittedscholarlyarticle--whatevercanhelpinformthesearchcommitteeofexpertise,interests,academicfocusandexperience.
● Contactinformationforfivecurrentreferencesasanadditionalpartoftheapplication.Consultantstothesearch:
CoreenHester and [email protected] [email protected]
Timeline:TheSchoolseekstomakeanappointmentforthenextHeadofSchoolatISPforJuly2021.AllapplicationsshouldbesubmittedexpeditiouslyandnolaterthanNovember15.TheSchoolhasbeguninterviewingforthepositionandreservestherighttomoveforwardwiththisappointmentwhentheappropriatecandidatehasbeenidentified.
Thesuccessfulcandidatewilldemonstratethebackground,experiences,anddispositioncharacterizedbythefollowingpersonalandprofessionalqualities:
• Experienceinahigh-performingschool
• Creativeproblem-solver• Handlescomplexityskillfully• Strongcommunicationskills• Highemotionalintelligence• Senseofwhimsyandgoodfun• Warmthandempathy• Creativityandinnovative• Commitmenttocollaboration• Energeticandambitious• BusinessAcumen