I began working as an educator and tutor in 1991. My experience in classrooms and my motivation as a “permanent learner” led me to complete a doctoral thesis on a topic that I felt was a need in our society, in professional, personal, educational, and social terms: the development of emotional intelligence.
From the very first moment, I knew that I did not want my thesis to just be a procedure I had to finish to obtain the sought-after doctorate degree, or a thesis that would only end up decorating the display cases of some college library. My objective was to write a thesis that was useful to me and to others. That was my purpose when I started it and when I finished it. I’d like to think it was, and continues to be, a thesis (I’d like to think it’s useful) that can be consulted by people who want to develop an emotional intelligence program at their organization. Objective achieved!
After finishing my doctoral thesis and teaching about it in different sectors (company, healthcare, education, social), I realized that education raises awareness, but it doesn’t always create sustainable change. Education in emotional intelligence gives reasons and awakens hearts, but it might not accompany you the way you need it to on the long, hard path toward developing emotional and leadership skills. For that, I needed “something else…”
With emotional intelligence, I had found the “what,” but I hadn’t quite found the “how.” I was concerned by the comments that participants in my courses made: “Meritxell, everything we learned was really useful. But now, what should we do to keep developing our emotional intelligence when we finish this course and are going about our daily lives?” And in this active, conscious search for the “how,” in 2004, I found the answer: coaching.
With coaching, I found the perfect methodology to develop emotional and leadership skills. This methodology’s genuine style is focused on conversations that are based on powerful questions. This is where I discovered my working “style.” And this discovery opened up a new phase in my professional life. . I threw myself into coaching, like I always do with everything I’m passionate about: 100% and working to the max to aspire to excellence! And I wasn’t willing to settle for anything less! And I’ve kept going until today.
As the years went by, I had the chance to make a dream come true: to lead the “Master’s in Emotional Intelligence and Coaching at the Workplace” for the IL3 University of Barcelona. This master’s degree consisted of two post-graduate degrees: “Post-Graduate in Coaching in the Workplace” and “Post-Graduate in Emotional Intelligence at Organizations.” Completing both post-graduate degrees provided the master’s degree. Between 2011 and 2020, part of my professional efforts were focused on this master’s.
Because another thing I knew since the very beginning is that my interest was focused on the professional world. I’ve been fortunate enough to make my vocation my profession. That’s the way it’s always been. I’ve made huge decisions and given up many things for my vocation-profession. And I like working with and for people who want to make their professional dream come true.
Coaching made it possible to find these people: businesspeople, managers, executives, liberal professionals, entrepreneurs, athletes, and more. These are the people I want to walk alongside as a coach, both individually and with work teams or groups of professionals, regardless of the sector, whether it be business, education/university, healthcare, or social.
Because at the end of the day, true leaders come from these groups of people. People who make things happen, transforming the culture, leadership, and mentality of companies to obtain better financial results…
In short, I decided to devote my life to everyone who wants to give their profession meaning. Those who want, and are able, to provide added value to society through their job. Those who aspire to excellence…and won’t settle for anything less!
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