Author: Newman de Lira e Melo Neto
Training leaders in the 21st century requires a multidisciplinary approach, where skills in different areas become essential to face global challenges. The development of skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving and adaptability are fundamental, and a diversified education shows the way to prepare this new generation of leaders. My academic and professional career, with involvement in areas such as law, data science and pedagogy, in addition to extracurricular activities, exemplifies how educational diversity can create more prepared leaders.
Academic Diversity and Skills
Throughout my education, I sought to explore several disciplines, such as law, accounting, administration and pedagogy. Each of these areas contributed to the development of unique skills. In the field of law, especially with my work at the Regional Federal Court of the 5th Region, at the Public Defender's Office of the Union and at the Attorney General's Office of the Union, I acquired analytical skills and a critical view of legal and social structures and the need to develop empathy and understanding. In accounting and data science, the focus was on developing quantitative thinking and the use of technology to solve complex problems, culminating in achievements such as the promotion of a data-driven culture in companies and the expansion of the use of artificial intelligence, delivering greater quality, agility and precision in results.
This combination of experiences shapes a flexible leadership profile, capable of navigating different contexts and finding innovative solutions. The multidisciplinary approach not only enriches theoretical knowledge, but also directly contributes to the development of practical skills, such as critical analysis, project management and leadership in dynamic environments, something that is increasingly required in both academic and professional environments.
Chess and Science as Training Tools
As a chess teacher and science coordinator in several projects, I have noticed how these two areas offer a fertile field for the development of leaders. Chess is a powerful tool that teaches strategy, patience and decision-making in complex situations. In my classes, both in NGOs, public schools and communities in Recife/PE and at ASFAM – Associação Filantrópica de Adaptação Militar in Recife/PE, and in the project I founded, Xadrez Sem Fronteiras, I observed the profound impact that the game has on students’ ability to plan and think critically.
Studies show that regular chess practice significantly improves cognitive skills such as memory, concentration and logical reasoning. In addition, my work in the Physics Club at USP, in the Technovation Girls Project, and as leader of Grupo Beta – a project in partnership with Mensa/MCTI for hunting asteroids – highlighted how science is fundamental to forming individuals capable of thinking broadly and integrating different areas of knowledge. Thus, both chess and science become essential tools in the formation of leaders prepared to solve real-world problems.
Global and Social Leadership
Multidisciplinary education also extends to the field of global and social leadership. My involvement in initiatives such as Rotaract, where I served as vice president and administrative director, and in Lions, highlights the importance of connecting academic knowledge with social impact. Projects like these show how science and technology can be allies in promoting inclusion and solving global challenges.
These experiences demonstrate that the leadership of the future requires more than a solid academic background; it demands leaders committed to social innovation. The intersection between education, science and social impact is the key to this transformation.
Conclusion
In an increasingly complex world, multidisciplinary education has emerged as one of the main tools for training leaders capable of facing global challenges. The combination of different areas of knowledge, combined with tools such as chess and science, not only forms more prepared individuals, but also enables them to create innovative solutions and lead significant changes in society. My trajectory demonstrates that diversified education applied in different contexts is an essential path for the development of this new generation of leaders.