Curiosity, experimentation and the hunger to learn are the ingredients of Frances Valintine’s life. Never afraid to go down the unknown and explore the uncharted path, she is a passionate educator and technologist dedicated to creating innovative opportunities that connect professionals to the knowledge and mindset needed to respond to the future of work.
Frances is the Founder of academyEX, a post-graduate institute based in New Zealand, focused on supporting the development of contemporary understanding and knowledge for professionals in sustainability, leadership, technology and education. She became a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her lifetime contribution to education and technology and was inducted into the New Zealand Hall of Fame for Women Entrepreneurs.
Her mission is to inspire and empower young people and their teachers to make bold self-discoveries and chase their curiosity. Her book, “Future You”, is dedicated to shifting perceptions about learning, showing how breaking away from expectations and routine is integral to enjoying a fulfilling life.
In this exclusive interview, Frances talks about embracing the future of education and work with bravery and curiosity and shares all the reasons why there is no age limit to a learning mindset.
1. Your entrepreneurial journey started by questioning why schools aren’t bringing global experts into the classroom or exploring teaching differently instead of going back to textbooks, a philosophy that became the pillar of academyEX. You believe teachers must be equipped with excitement and a hunger to learn, as they serve as role models for children. How can they be stimulated to bring back the learning bug?
To get teachers to embrace change, it is essential to build their confidence in contemporary teaching methods and provide them with evidence that the change will improve learning outcomes. Today’s students live in a highly digital, instant gratification, always-on world. Textbooks and traditional methods aren’t exactly sparking the great joy of discovery experienced in earlier generations. My philosophy focuses on the need to bring real-world scenarios to the classroom, where students can use every available tool to research, query, challenge and develop new knowledge, contextualized in the world they live in.
In reality, many teachers feel the burden of operating within the limitations of traditional school systems that don’t provide room to innovate or do things differently. Imagine an environment where teachers could work alongside students to try new ideas, take risks, and even fail – because failure is often where the most learning happens. When educators are free to experiment, they can bring a sense of discovery into the classroom, and the ripple effect on students is undeniable. Learning becomes dynamic, unpredictable, and, most importantly, fun.
My own experience has shown that there is an immediate benefit to supporting teachers in learning something new. Teachers bring the learning and discovery energy back into the classroom. Students pick up on that excitement, and suddenly, the classroom doesn’t feel like a lecture hall – it feels like a launchpad for ideas.
2. “Never stop being curious. This is not a world of answers, this is a world of questions!” is one of your popular sayings. You encourage youth to explore, focus on inner growth and create a “portfolio of skills”, instead of chasing rewards or qualifications. Why do you believe such an approach would make today’s children tomorrow’s sustainable leaders? What core skills will help students thrive and work passionately for a brighter future?
“Never stop being curious!” is the foundation for my approach to life. We live in a world that doesn’t give you all the answers wrapped up in a neat package. Instead, it’s full of questions that push us to explore, adapt, and grow. Technological advances such as Artificial Intelligence have already reached expert-level knowledge in many areas, so the notion that we should continue to teach students the same things that generative AI can do, makes no sense. The world is evolving too quickly for anyone to rely on a single qualification or a linear career path. The leaders of tomorrow will be the ones who know how to learn, unlearn, and relearn – who are comfortable with discomfort and see problems as opportunities to innovate.
3. Encouraging employers to value and invest in learning and development is another key mission of yours. How can companies support employees in reinvigorating their existing skills, embracing innovation, and having bold initiatives in the workplace? How do you imagine the future of work will shift over the next few years?
Getting companies to invest in learning and development isn’t just about keeping employees happy. It’s about keeping them relevant and able to make good decisions with the most up-to-date knowledge. If businesses want to thrive, they need to start seeing their people as more than just cogs in the machine. The future of work isn’t about clocking in and doing the same thing over and over. It’s about constantly growing, adapting, and staying curious.
Learning should be a core part of business culture – not just an afterthought. Real investment means giving people the time and space to learn, experiment, and fail without fear of judgement. Employees need to feel empowered to take risks and try new approaches without worrying that their jobs are on the line if things don’t work out perfectly. Whether it’s through cross-functional projects, mentorship programs, or even sabbaticals to explore new ideas. When people feel supported to think creatively, they’re more likely to come up with those game-changing initiatives that push the whole business forward.
4. To you, entrepreneurship is about “keeping hold of big dreams and believing there’s always a way to do it.” What is one thing an entrepreneur should never let go of?
Never let go of belief, of that unshakable conviction that there’s always a way, no matter how impossible things seem. It’s the belief that when things get tough (and they always do), there’s a solution waiting to be found, a new path to be carved, or a lesson hidden in the failure. That’s the heartbeat of entrepreneurship.
5. In your book, “Future You”, you tell young readers to act courageously: “Whenever I have an idea, I tell as many people as I can. By telling people, you’re making it real. Many people never share it for fear someone will copy it. I don’t think people steal ideas. It takes energy to breathe life into someone else’s idea.” How do you inspire and motivate a young person who is afraid to act on their creative vision?
The key to inspiring a fearful young person is to show them that action beats fear every time. Here’s the thing: ideas are great, but they’re nothing without action. I tell people to share their ideas because speaking them out loud makes them real. It’s like saying, “This is important enough for me to put out into the world.” And once it’s out there, it starts to take shape.
Sure, some people worry about someone stealing their idea, but it takes massive energy, passion, and commitment to bring a vision to life. Most people aren’t going to take the risk of bringing someone else’s dream to life. The most successful people didn’t start because they were sure everything would work out; they started because their vision was worth the risk. They knew they’d figure things out as they went along. I want young people to understand that you don’t need to have everything figured out. You just need to start.
This exclusive interview was first published in the bilingual yearbook Community Index Magazine no. 6, published in February 2025. You can browse it here: https://communityindex.ro/community-index-magazine-2024/
