Congratulations to Peniel Ibe, one of the recipients of a DRI Scholarship, announced at our recent Collegiate Conference at University College London. Ibe is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree at UCL. We spoke with her to get her perspective on the resilience profession and its global role.
What is your current area of study with UCL? Does that have a connection to business continuity/resilience?
I am currently studying Disaster, Risk and Resilience at UCL. It is connected to business continuity because understanding the essential processes for enhancing organizational resilience in the public and private sectors is critical to achieving disaster risk and reduction goals.
How did you first get interested in the business continuity/resilience field? What drew you to it?
I became interested in this area while choosing modules for my postgraduate degree. I liked how the field applies to any entity that wants to be prepared for disruptions to business as usual. I am also interested in this framework within the context of change adaptation and mitigation.
What made you want to apply for the DRI Scholarship? Had you been searching for a professional certification or was there something specific about DRI?
I heard about the DRI scholarship through my business continuity module lead, and I applied because I was curious about risk management and business continuity. The scholarship offers resources to support me as I complete my postgraduate degree, and I hope to build my skills in the field of business resilience by one day attaining a professional certification from DRI.
What do you think will be next along your career path?
Following the completion of my master’s degree, I am interested in a career in which I can support business continuity and organizational resilience in the public and private sectors in areas in sub-Saharan Africa that are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
What would you say to up-and-coming professionals who may be interested in resilience as a profession – or may not even know it exists?
From risk assessments to adequate response measures, business continuity and resilience offer core elements to problem-solving, which every individual, regardless of their background, should have to succeed in a rapidly changing environment. It is a profession that is needed in every industry.
This scholarship was made possible by the funds raised at the DRI Collegiate Conference at UCL. Click here to learn more about the event.