On November 14-15, IESE’s Madrid campus hosted the latest edition of the Global Alumni Reunion (GAR). Titled “The Courage to Create the Future” and led by Professors Sampsa Samila and Marta Elvira, the event welcomed over 2,000 alumni, both in-person and online. Notable entrepreneur speakers included GEMBA’03 Jonathan Lakin (Intent HQ) on AI-driven customer personalization, PDD’05 Luis Gallego (IAG) on putting humans at the heart of AI, and MBA’90 Enrique Lizaso (Multiverse Computing) on quantum AI's potential to solve complex challenges. Read the full news story on IESE’s website.

Miquel Fluxà, CEO of Camper, joined IESE’s Global Leadership Series for a fireside chat moderated by IESE Deputy Dean Marc Badia. Titled “Mastering Design and Intrapreneurship,” the session explored Camper’s approach to blending innovation with Mediterranean heritage, fostering intrapreneurship, integrating sustainability, adapting globally, and embracing digital transformation to drive future innovation.
Fluxà’s insights highlighted the importance of aligning innovation with values to thrive in a competitive market. Read Marc Badia’s LinkedIn post for further insights! 

In a recent interview for IESE Insight, Marta Valles, PDD’11 and co-founder of the developer ecosystem Vottun, compares blockchain's development to the internet and artificial intelligence revolutions. She highlights its capacity to enhance transparency, security, and efficiency across various industries. Valles encourages business leaders and investors to proactively engage with blockchain, predicting its impact to be as significant as that of the internet and artificial intelligence, stating that "the time to learn and invest is now."

In a recent event organized by IESE’s Lifelong Learning Initiative, the 2023-24 PDG cohorts returned to IESE for a case discussion led by Professor Julia Prats. Her session explored the challenges of structuring innovation, emphasizing the role of key stakeholders in driving impactful change. During the event, IESE Lifelong Learning also introduced the Lifelong Learning platform, a new value proposition for Alumni that integrates virtual tools and in-person activities to promote continuous learning and strategic networking. Congratulations to the LIU team for empowering our community to bridge knowledge and action, shaping the future of business transformation.

Starting a business is challenging, but finding the right investors to fund your startup can be even more daunting. As a founder, attracting the interest of potential investors is critical to securing funding for your business. But with so many companies competing for limited investment opportunities, standing out from the crowd can be difficult. In the latest IESE Elevator Tips video, Entrepreneurship Lecturer David Frodsham reveals the six keys to getting financing for your startup. From competitive advantage to scaling potential, find out what investors really want to hear. 

From November 11-13, the Technical University of Munich (TUM) hosted a field trip for EuroTeQ project partners, with IESE proudly represented. The event featured talks and networking, highlighting Munich's entrepreneurship ecosystem. Visits included TUM's startup center UnternehmerTUM, Wavelab—the innovation lab for music, arts, and media—and the Social Entrepreneurship Akademie, among others.The gathering built on the success of July’s EuroTeQ event at IESE Barcelona, which earned top scores. Haven’t seen the highlights? Watch the Ignite Bootcamp video and stay tuned for more updates on the EuroTeQ project!

Innovation fuels progress, driving economic growth and societal advancement. To navigate its complexities, the World Economic Forum (WEF), in collaboration with IESE’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, created the Innovation Transformation Map.
The WEF's Transformation Maps are dynamic, interactive tools designed to explore and understand the complex and interconnected forces shaping global economies, industries, and issues. These maps present expert insights alongside machine-curated content, allowing users to visualize and comprehend over 250 topics and their interdependencies. Discover the Innovation Transformation Map, and explore other maps and critical topics on the WEF’s website. 

"Social movements can be crucial in encouraging entrepreneurial activity in emerging industries, serving as catalysts for innovation in some of the areas where it’s needed most", emphasizes Professor Desirée Pacheco in this World Economic Forum article. By championing sustainability, these movements drive growth in industries like renewable energy and recycling: they legitimize green industries, shape consumer awareness, and foster ecosystems for innovation. Discover how the authors leveraged the solar energy industry in the U.S. to demonstrate their findings.