It is with great pleasure that we now introduce the two newest members of the UNICON Board of Directors:
Marta Pimentel
Executive Director, Nova School of Business and Economics, Executive Education
Marta’s bio
Executive Director at Nova SBE Executive Education since 2019. Leads a team of more than 70 people and a business that is consolidating and growing consistently in quality, revenue, and margin.
Marta has more than 32 years of professional experience in the education sector, particularly in executive education, having worked in three different Business Schools. Before Nova SBE she worked for 15 years at FDC: Fundação Dom Cabral, where she was, among several other positions, Associated Dean. At PBS: Oporto Business School, she worked as a Business Developer. She started her career at a private university in Portugal, IPAM.
Throughout her career, she has been an invited professor at the Business Schools where she has worked. This gives her the opportunity to interact with a wide range of companies and industries and reflect on their needs and jobs to be done! Within the diversity agenda, she dedicated part of her career in study and developing women leaders. She has developed numerous programmes for different levels of seniority, conducted mentoring sessions with more than 1,500 women and participates in some women’s networks and communities.
She holds a degree in Organisational Psychology, an MBA and a PhD in Management both in Oporto University. As part of her commitment to lifelong learning, she has an AMP at FDC and INSEAD and a coaching certificate at Hendley (in process).
Born in Mozambique with Portuguese nationality, now lives in Lisbon and has two wonderful young adults, Afonso (25) and Carlota (23). She has had the opportunity to live in several Portuguese-speaking countries. The long career and contact with different contexts and cultures has enabled her to consolidate skills that help her in a Board position, such as strategic leadership, educational experience, execution and implementation, communication, and advocacy skills.
She is an incorrigible optimist, bold and determined to climb the mountains that life challenges her, including Kilimanjaro.
Jon A. Kaupla
President and Executive Director, University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin School of Business Center for Professional & Executive Development
Jon’s bio
Jon A. Kaupla is the President and Executive Director of the Wisconsin School of Business Center for Professional & Executive Development at the University of Wisconsin. With over 25 years of leadership experience in human resources and learning and development, Jon has significantly contributed to the growth and transformation of the Center since 2017. He has a proven track record in designing and managing executive education programs, fostering differentiated growth through strategic initiatives
Jon is a leader in the executive education industry, serving as co-chairperson of the Communications Committee of UNICON and launching the “Big Ten Executive Education Consortium” in 2017. This consortium has been instrumental in connecting 14 executive education leaders from universities across the United States. Jon played a pivotal role in Wisconsin hosting the successful 2022 UNICON Summer Workshop, engaging member schools globally.
A certified executive coach, Jon also teaches graduate-level human resources courses. He holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology and social work from Florida State University and a Master of Arts in education from Alverno College.
About UNICON Board Elections
Each year, our board undergoes a natural rotation where two members complete their terms and two new members come on board to ensure fresh perspectives and continuity. Typically, board terms last for six years. However, there are exceptions when a vacancy arises—often due to a sitting member accepting a new position outside of university-based Executive Education.