International Women's Day 2024 Feature: Julia Busatto
Julia Busatto, project manager at the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation (IICSI), exudes inspiring, understanding, supportive, and inclusive leadership along with a genuine enthusiasm for her/their work at the University of Guelph.
When asked about her/their role at the U of G during an interview with the College of Arts’ Marketing and Communications team, Busatto replied the “three words that came to mind were busy, dynamic, and energizing.” Busatto explained that her/their role is varied, encompassing a variety of responsibilities from facilitating access to the ImprovLab for IICSI researchers and colleagues across campus, to leading a team, to working with students and scholars, to event planning. Busatto’s deftness in effectively managing and executing the many demands of her/their role bolsters her/their “[work to] amplify and disseminate the research that’s taking place here and now” and “[ensure graduate students have] adequate training opportunities [in the form of Graduate] Research Assistantships or Graduate Student Assistantships.”
When asked what advice she/they would give to others entering her/their field work, Busatto underscored the importance of recognizing “that people are people regardless of the labels that we put on them, and that people should always be given the opportunity to work outside of these boxes and their assumed expectations.” Busatto explained that the workplace should be an environment that makes people feel safe to grow and change, remarking “it’s important for me to empower [people to exist] in the workplace [outside of the confines] of gender and labeling.”
Busatto shared that she/they feel(s) fulfilled at work and has forged strong relationships with colleagues, undoubtedly because of the abundant professionalism and positivity with which she/they approach her/their work. Busatto is a thoughtful and collaborative leader whose care for all with whom she/they interact(s) with is evident, and the College commends her/their numerous contributions to the IICSI and to the broader University.