How Do You Feel About Your Level of Education?
Does your level of education determine your value in society?
I certainly hope not…
Education is not limited to childhood and adolescence. Learning does not stop at school. Throughout our lives, our environment educates us, and it is both a strict and dangerous teacher.
– Paul Valéry
If you follow me on social media or have read my other articles, you already know that I currently offer coaching services to help managers develop their leadership skills and build engaged, high-performing teams.
Given this, you might assume that I studied Human Resources Management.
Well… yes and no.
I gained a basic foundation in HR during my MBA, and I took a course to deepen my management knowledge when I landed my first supervisory role. Recently, I also completed a professional coaching accreditation to refine my approach when working with my clients. However, most of my knowledge comes from hands-on experience in various management roles—Environmental Management, Production, Warehousing, and Analytical Laboratory.
It All Started in a Laboratory
Really???
Yes! Before discovering my true passion for servant leadership and employee development, I completed a Master’s in Chemistry (I’ll spare you the details of my thesis so you can keep reading 😀).
If that surprises you, it’s because I don’t usually bring it up in my first conversations with people. In most cases, I only mention it when I feel comfortable in a group or when I want to spark curiosity. I enjoy seeing people’s minds trying to connect pure sciences with my work in helping managers and teams thrive.
But why do I keep this information to myself most of the time?
Because people sometimes feel intimidated by my academic background, and they feel the need to justify their own worth, even if they don’t have a scientific degree (which, trust me, is absolutely fine).
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard:
“Even though I didn’t study science, I can do X and Y.”
“You’re great at math, but me… well…”
Of course, these people are skilled and competent.
Studying science does not make me or any other scientist a better person or a role model. It’s just one of many possible paths.
Why This Need for Justification?
Why This Sense of Inferiority?
Most of the time, these reactions make me feel uneasy. My instinct is always to downplay my academic achievements and shift the conversation to highlight the other person’s strengths.
It feels like I’m being put into a box.
Life Is Not a Straight Line
I have no shame in my journey, and I am proud of my accomplishments.
However, my degrees do not define me. They are simply tools that have helped me get to where I am today.
And that’s a good thing—because if my education were my only defining trait, I’d feel like I had wasted seven years of my life on scientific studies that are not directly useful to me today.
The other day, my 18-year-old son, who is in his first year of college and still uncertain about his future career, asked me:
“Are you disappointed that you put so much effort into earning degrees that now just collect dust?”
Fair question. I’ve asked myself the same thing.
However, in moments of doubt, I always remember what one of my professors, Serge Lacelle, told me when I was panicking during my master’s degree, questioning what a degree in surface chemistry would open up for me.
“Your education is giving you tools right now—project management, technical writing, autonomy, resilience, creativity, and structure—that will be transferable to your future career in the corporate world.”
Wow.
Such wisdom!
He was absolutely right. The challenges I faced in my academic journey built a solid foundation for my career.
A False Perception
It takes all kinds of people to build a functioning society—engineers, doctors, and scientists are just one piece of the puzzle.
We are conditioned to put certain professions on a pedestal, but at the end of the day, these individuals are just people like you and me.
I consider myself privileged to have a knack for learning, but there are countless people who have achieved incredible things with little or no formal education.
This is why I don’t list my degrees in my email signature, and honestly, I don’t even know where my diplomas are.
I Don’t Want My Education to Define My Interactions
I may be an academic, but I am probably the most incompetent person when it comes to manual tasks, mechanics, or home repairs.
And to be honest, I have zero interest in learning these skills. Instead, I happily pay professionals to handle them for me.
Some people in my life don’t understand this—they can’t believe that I’d spend money on something that seems so obvious to them.
But the moment I even think about tackling these kinds of tasks, my stress level skyrockets, and I find every excuse to delay them.
Sound familiar?
It’s the same reaction that many people have when they hear the words math, physics, or chemistry.
We all have our strengths and weaknesses.
So, if you are a mechanic, plumber, carpenter, or real estate developer—you have my full respect. You possess knowledge and expertise that are light-years beyond my understanding.
Bravo!
Our Value Is Not Defined by a Piece of Paper
We all walk our own path and acquire knowledge along the way.
To truly grow, we need to celebrate others’ achievements rather than feel envious of them.
If we possess knowledge that could help a family member, a colleague, an employee, or a manager, what’s the point of looking down on them instead of sharing what we know?
We often hear the phrase:
“Knowledge is power.”
If that’s true, then we must democratize knowledge and share what we learn.
That is the best way to achieve excellence and collective success.
When one of us wins, the whole team wins.
Final Thoughts
If you ever meet me, let’s talk about our experiences, our ideas, and how we can collaborate and learn from each other.
I’m eager to hear about your passions and ambitions…
Because to me, your academic background doesn’t matter—only what you’ve accomplished with it and the dreams that drive you.
Remember: Knowledge is not limited to the classroom.
Discover the 5 Must-Ask Questions for Happy Teams
Do you want to better understand what motivates your team members and could help you create a happy team? My practical guide, 5 Must-Ask Questions for Happy Teams, is designed to provide you with simple and effective tools to:
- Create a climate of trust within your team
- Identify the true needs and aspirations of your employees
- Encourage meaningful conversations that foster collaboration
- Boost engagement and collective performance
- Anticipate and resolve challenges before they become obstacles
Carl-Michael Tessier M. Sc., MBA*
Coach in high-performance team development and tailor-made support
* I will use 2025 as a starting point to add my titles at least to my signature.
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