One of the Liverpool City Region’s strongest assets is its people. This new series shines a light on some of those people most dedicated to the region’s vision. Over the coming months, we will be getting under the surface of what makes the City Region a unique place to live, work and play!
We begin by sitting down with the Chair of Baltic Creative CIC and Programme Leader for Executive Education at Liverpool John Moore’s University, Fiona Armstrong-Gibbs, as she tells us a little about her role, her life, and her place in securing an exciting future amongst creative-minded people in the City Region.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself, Fiona…
A: I’m currently in multi-tasking mode which keeps things interesting. I’m the Programme Leader for MBA Scale Up at Liverpool John Moores University, as well as the Chair for Baltic Creative CIC, something I’ve been involved with – initially as a volunteer – since its inception in 2009. It all keeps me wonderfully busy!
Q: And what does your role within Baltic Creative look like?
A: As the Chair of Baltic Creative CIC, I lead on the Environment Social and Governance agenda of the organisation. It is important to take charge over sustainability, both socially and financially, to ensure that there is a future for creative minds. It is about being responsible with the big decisions but also listening to those with big ideas. It’s something I take incredibly seriously!
Q: What are some things that make your job special?
A: I’ve been lucky enough to carve out a career that I love as there was not a specific role that existed that I wanted to chase after, so it’s been a combination of luck and hard work!
With my work across the University and with Baltic Creative CIC, I have the immense privilege of giving others the opportunity to bridge the gap between education and innovation. Working in that connective space is really rewarding, I have the chance to work with some inspirational experts and connect them to the next generation of young people through our work, right here in Liverpool City Region.
Q: What makes your industry so unique?
A: I was talking to a friend the other day, they had come over to Liverpool for a short stay and whilst discussing the City Region they said, “There’s always something happening here, isn’t there?”
I think that’s the perfect summary of why I love my role – the industry and City Region is so unique.
Not only is Liverpool rich in heritage, but it is re-writing that heritage year in and year out. There is so much to discover for such a small city. From a communal sense, Liverpool has a will to succeed and that feedsinto my work. It is a privilege to see the daily enthusiasm and lust for life in the City Region, which is just unparalleled.
Q: What has been the biggest challenge you’ve experienced in your career?
A: Less to do with me and more to do with my home. I was raised in the Wirral and during the 80’s and early 90’s, Liverpool City Region had an enormous brain drain and had a reputation for being a difficult place to live. The challenge has been overcoming that existing reputation, with some of the negative narrative surround the City Region.
But there is a real hope and enormous potential for Liverpool now. We’ve got a chance to move on and make waves. Students study here, they fall in love with the city and become advocates for it – whether they stay or travel elsewhere. In my work, I have the chance to inspire something meaningful and leave a lasting positive impact on a city I love.
Q: And finally, what is the best advice you’ve ever received?
A: It is something that I try to practice, but not always successfully.
Maya Angelou said once, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.
Powerful stuff, isn’t it? I think we all have the capacity to make people feel amazing or awful in equal measure – it is my duty to try and impact people’s lives in a positive way, and I hope through Baltic Creative CIC and my other roles, I can do just that and inspire the next generation of talent in the City Region.”
To learn more about Baltic Creative CIC, read our feature here.
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