14 de July de 2026
The year 2023 is approaching, and with it, the opening of new cycles for the Education Laboratory. Beatriz Cardoso, President of Labedu, was selected to be an Impact Leader in Residence at Harvard University and joins the new network of fellows seniors in the ALI program (Advanced Leadership Initiative).
The selection process took place in October of this year, having been open to all ALI alumni, an initiative that seeks to leverage the work of leaders with more than 20 years of experience in addressing the main social challenges of our times. Beatriz competed with more than 600 members and the selection committee’s decision to invite her to return to Harvard after 10 years since her first participation as a fellow in 2013 is a reflection of the strength of her career dedicated to strengthening public education in Brazil.
The Education Laboratory’s trajectory will be the subject of study and discussion with the new class of fellows. In planning her stay in Cambridge, Beatriz will prepare a presentation about Labedu for the university’s spring seminar, in addition to other instances of sharing her experience designing and implementing projects to ensure quality public education in our country.
With her return to Harvard, Beatriz assumes the commitment to be a resource for the ALI 2023 class, as well as for the university community during her time as Impact Leader in Residence. Beatriz will be able to attend courses that are aligned with the development of the Education Laboratory, for example, at the Harvard Graduate School of Education or at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. The objective of this stage at Harvard will be to promote improvements to Labedu’s institutional project based on the experience and knowledge she integrates. During this leave period, Andrea Guida and Nicole Paulet Piedra, who already share the directorship with Beatriz, will assume leadership of the organization.
The Education Laboratory, which celebrates 10 years in 2022, enjoys a series of Beatriz’s participations at Harvard University as part of its trajectory. In 2013, the institution’s first strategic plan was developed in the same ALI program, and in August 2022, the case based on the organization’s founding years was presented by Beatriz to the class of fellows. The document was developed throughout the year Beatriz participated in the program, as a practical example of how to approach the articulation of partnerships to develop an original and innovative project, mobilizing technical and financial resources even before having the initiative off the ground. In September 2021, Beatriz was also before the class of fellows, discussing Labedu’s proposal to boost Brazilian education through the production of tools that translate cutting-edge knowledge about child development, enriching the daily practices of educators inside and outside the formal education system.
In the invitation letter for Beatriz to participate in this opportunity at Harvard, the selection committee reinforced its pride in integrating her into the program again, honoring her with the following words:
We continue to be inspired by your humility, your service orientation, and your work bringing innovation to public education, and we are excited and eager to help you advance your efforts during this one-year return residency to ALI and Harvard.
The Education Laboratory team will be rooting for a year of much learning and important institutional alliances. Congratulations, Beatriz!