Kathy Bradley

What does creativity mean to you?

Creativity means expression to me. It is enabling expression of ideas in multiple formats, helping entry points to discussion and providing the freedom for self and others. Creativity is transformative and brings dreams into reality. The use of creativity as a tool of engagement fills me with excitement. I believe embracing creativity can unleash potential and become core to a persons modus operandi.

What attracted you to B!G Mentoring and what are you most looking forward to?

The opportunity to foster growth and creativity in our young people is what attracted me to the B!G Mentoring. I am looking forward to hearing about future B!G ideas, helping through questioning, helping to scaffold and model the learning from this project. I am also looking forward to learning so much from this journey

Why is creativity and innovation important in your line of work?

Multiple forms of expression is so important for the students that I work with everyday. The creative aspect of my work is often how we present the resources and the platforms that we engage with. Creativity helps bring problems into focus and therefore helps us to think about things in different ways, it opens our minds to possibilities and allows us to reimagine the world we live in. 

What do you now know about creativity that you wish you would have known earlier in your career or when you were a student in secondary school?

I wish I had known that it is okay not to have all the right answers and that collaboration is often the key to successful creativity. Having an open mind and a process to which everyone can be heard together with embracing what is different can be successful strategies when contemplating creativity.

Last but not least! The B!G ‘Whatif!’ If the power of creativity was unleashed in every person, young and old and in between, what do you think Ireland would look like?

I think the future is bright. We have wonderful young people that have to be provided with opportunities to develop skills and  embrace creativity, communication and teamwork so that they can offer novel creative solutions to the societal challenges that we face today.