Excellence in Professional Disciplines and Their Importance in Social and Educational Entrepreneurship

Abstract

Knowledge of the potentialities and strengths of individuals is a premise of numerous studies today, even more so when we are in a historical moment characterized by dizzying changes that demand innovation and creativity from society to adapt to such challenges. The aim of this study is to identify and analyse the personal characteristics, together with the role of contextual mediators, of fifteen relevant Portuguese nationals recognised for their excellence. To this end, an interview generalizable to different professional contexts is used, seeking to explain the process of development and manifestation of excellence of the participants in their professional areas. Although the concept of excellence is complex, its approach is essential to favour, among other aspects, social and educational entrepreneurship. Therefore, knowing and understanding the personal and professional trajectories of these subjects may allow us to make an approximation to those distinctive characteristics of excellence, with a view to proposing a conceptual model for action in the social and educational fields. In this way, among the characteristics drawn, it is worth pointing out the necessary specialization in at least one professional area, its manifestation from an early age, the determining influence of the family, teachers or illustrious personalities, or the consideration that its incidence is not a gender issue.