HR4RS stamp
Alberto Gómez
Doctoral theses can deal with countless topics such as health, computer science, economics and even animal behavior. But all these theses have something in common: and it is that the work must provide new knowledge. That is the great value of doctorates.
In the case of Angélica Sánchez, she spent 2 years studying her master's degree at the Rey Juan Carlos University and, later, 4 years doing her doctoral thesis related to business administration. Later, she was part of the Research Group of Excellence 'Strategor' of the URJC. She is now teaching at the Espiritu Santo University in Ecuador and has been awarded with the appearance in the 'Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors'.
"I'm very happy. I had been preparing for this award for 2 years when I found out about the ranking. However, I didn't decide to participate until this year, when I felt I met the profile", comments Angélica Sánchez, adding, "it is a recognition that is granted worldwide, and there are professors from the best universities in the world, so it is very difficult to enter. But let's just say it wasn't something unexpected, it's something I've been working towards."
The URJC Ph.D. says that she found out about this ranking when she went to the Academy of Management in Chicago. There she met professor Olga Hawn from the University of North Carolina who won this award in 2019. It was then that Angélica found out about this ranking and decided to enter it.
This award is based on two different aspects: research and teaching. For the investigation, the volume and impact of the academic work of each teacher is observed: number of times cited in Google, attention in the media and the research work itself. In addition, if these investigations have a social, political or environmental tint, the points usually go up quite a bit. On the other hand, in the aspect of teaching, the nominations received are key, both in quality and quantity, thus considering the awards and scholarships received by the professor.
“In my case, I had nominations not only from my students, my classmates or the highest authorities of my university in Ecuador, but I also had nominations from the businessmen with whom I have worked, from the government agencies in which I have worked. supported and my teachers, students and researchers from all over the world”, says the winner.
She says that the Rey Juan Carlos University has been the basis for becoming the professional she is today. He remembers that during his beginnings “I did not know how the world of research worked because in my country it was not something common. When I did the Master in Business Administration, I found out about the possibility of following the line of research and there the URJC helped me to get to know this field. Of course, all my motivation began with my thesis directors Luis Ángel Guerras and Francisco Forcadell, excellent professors and renowned researchers with thousands of citations that motivate you to follow in their footsteps”.
He gives URJC students and doctoral students four fundamental pieces of advice. “First, that they choose a good director because that way they will get a better doctoral thesis. Second, the doctorate is not a speed race, it is an endurance race. Make a work schedule, try to dedicate, every day, from 2 to 6 hours to your thesis work. Followed by this, take advantage of national and international conferences to do a good networking. There they will meet new or more experienced researchers, in order to collaborate together and carry out different publications. Finally, work your thesis by articles. That was my case and each chapter that was ending (that is, each article) was being presented in a different congress”.
Angélica Sánchez is now a professor-researcher at the Espiritu Santo University of Ecuador. With this award, she would like to apply for external funds to investigate the issue of women entrepreneurs in rural areas, directing private companies towards a generation of social change. Due to the violence that exists in her country, which stems from economic and social inequality, she would like to direct her future towards a much more social sphere.