BE A BOSS: “These events are essential to inspire new ideas”

The first edition of the talk series “BE A BOSS – Conversations to Inspire Your Future!” ended on May 8 at the School of Economics and Management of the University of Porto (FEP). Promoted by UPTEC in partnership with BOSS – Board Of StudentS @UPTEC, the initiative brought together over 100 participants and 18 U.Porto alums who shared their entrepreneurial journeys across six events.

The final event featured former FEP students who now hold leadership roles in innovative projects: Ana Silva, CFO at Grupo Impacting, Reinaldo Sousa, founder of Happy Tree, and Pedro Lopes, founder of Infinite Book. Ana Silva, who also delivered the keynote speech, highlighted the value of the initiative: “I’ve been working with UPTEC for 14 years, and I strongly identify with this entrepreneurial spirit. These events are essential to inspire new ideas. It would have been incredibly helpful to me when I was a student.”

In addition to inspiring stories, participants left with personal insights. Ana Marta, a FEP student, shared: “It’s reassuring to know that there’s more than one path and that it’s okay to change direction and reinvent yourself. I enjoyed hearing from people who built companies and reached leadership positions.” Sofia, from the Faculty of Pharmacy, also shared her thoughts: “I appreciated the perspective that investment isn’t always as out of reach as it seems. With persistence, a good team and support, we can build something of our own.”

The event maintained an informal but valuable atmosphere. After the talks, the FEP’s all-female student musical group, Tuna Feminina de Economia, gave a live performance, closing the cycle with music and spirit. The event ended with a relaxed networking session where students and speakers exchanged ideas over food and drinks.

Participation in Be A Boss was free, and all attendees received an official UPTEC certificate and Pro-Skills credits that help enrich their academic journey with extracurricular experiences related to innovation and entrepreneurship.

More than a space for hearing success stories, Be A Boss encouraged students to reflect on their paths. Speaker Reinaldo Sousa emphasized the importance of academic relationships: “University is a unique opportunity to build relationships that can last a lifetime. In the end, happiness is about being special in someone else’s life and having special people in ours.”

BOSS – Board Of Students: Applications now open

According to Maria Oliveira, Executive Director of UPTEC, the feedback from this first edition could not be more encouraging: “We created BOSS to bring students closer to the entrepreneurial world and give them space to influence our activities. This edition showed us there is a generation full of talent and drive to make things happen. That’s why we’re already inviting students to join the next BOSS.”

A group of volunteer students organized the event as part of the BOSS – Board Of StudentS @UPTEC programme, designed to connect the academic community with the world of innovation. Margarida Costa, a FEP student and one of the organizers, reflected on her experience: “I learned a lot about resilience. Organizing these events puts us face-to-face with the real world – communication, logistics, and unexpected challenges. Above all, I gained a supportive community. It was a challenge but also a comfort.”

After visiting multiple U.Porto faculties – ICBAS&FFUP, FEUP, FBAUP, FLUP, FAUP and FEP – Be A Boss ends its first edition with positive results, new connections and a meaningful impact on the academic community. UPTEC is now accepting applications for the next BOSS – Board Of Students.