In the High Flyers spotlight this week is Dr Anthony Soares, director of the Centre for Cross Border Studies, which earlier this month hosted its 22nd annual conference entitled‘Testing the health of conditions for post-Brexit cooperation: The evolving social and political contexts’
What was your first job?
Other than a paper-round, my first job was in banking.
What qualifications do you have?
Having completed a BA in English & Portuguese at the University of Leeds, I did a PhD at Queen’s University Belfast.
What do you attribute your success to?
I realise that any success I might have in the kind of work I do is down to the ability to bring people with me, and to keeping the conversations with people going constantly. It’s also about curiosity and generosity: wanting to know what’s happening over there, on the other side of the border (which can be any kind of border), and sharing what’s happening over here. Then the conversations lead to working together to grasp opportunities and address common challenges.
How would you describe yourself to someone who’d never met you?
I’m passionate about what I do, but quietly so.
Who do you look up to in business?
I look up to all those in my sector whose passion for what they do is something that they transmit to those who work for them, and to those their organisations are there to help. You know it when you see it, and their passion gives you energy when you come into contact with them. But they are also people with compassion – and that is priceless.
How do you get the best out of people who work for you?
I’m there to listen and to support, but I’m also there to learn from those who work with me. I also trust in them, and give them the space to grow and to make our organisation grow with them.
If you could change one thing about doing business in Northern Ireland, what would it be?
There is huge potential in Northern Ireland, and in some cases even greater potential when collaborating with others across borders (whether north-south or east-west), but perhaps at times the lack of unity of purpose and lack of self-confidence means we don’t necessarily see that full potential coming through.
What website or app could you not do without?
Twitter: tweet-tweet!
What was the last book you read?
Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye
What car do you drive?
A VW Jetta, relieved that lockdowns and public health restrictions have meant it’s not being driven round the island of Ireland for meetings.
Tell us something interesting about yourself?
I was once given a brilliant lesson on governing a country, using a jug of water and a glass, by the current President of East Timor.
What’s your greatest passion outside work and family?
I love walking – we live on an island with a beautiful landscape in which I can enjoy that passion.
