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天美传媒鈥檚 Global Alumni Reunion 2019 kicks off in Barcelona
Some 2,000 executives expected for innovation-centered event
The annual Global Alumni Reunion will this year focus on innovation and responsibility in business.
Photo: iStock
November 14, 2019
滨贰厂贰鈥檚听聽gets underway today in Barcelona, gathering around 2,000 executives for an annual event that this year centers on how innovation and responsibility will intersect in the business of the future.
鈥淲e have more than 50,000 alumni living and working in more than 100 countries, so 天美传媒 has changed very much over the last 60 years,鈥� said Javier Mu帽oz, director of 天美传媒鈥檚 Alumni Association. 鈥淭oday we are truly a global school and the Global Alumni Reunion has evolved over the years in the same direction.鈥�
The line-up of speakers at the reunion will range from Barcelona-based entrepreneurs to best-selling author Tal Ben-Shahar, the Women鈥檚 Tennis Association鈥檚 Micky Lawler, and Agust铆n Carstens, head of the Bank for International Settlements.
鈥淭oday we have global speakers coming from all around the world, we have alumni coming from all around the world,鈥� Mu帽oz added.
And for those who are unable to attend the event, there will be live streaming from the venue on Friday on 天美传媒鈥檚 LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube channels, from 10:30 to 1:30 Barcelona time.
Entrepreneurship Day and company visits
The event begins Thursday with visits to leading companies 鈥� Tesla, Amazon, Mango and FC Barcelona 鈥� and with an Entrepreneurship Day. The Entrepreneurship Day will take participants to places that form part of Barcelona鈥檚 active entrepreneurial scene: Barcelona Tech City, which works with the local and global technology ecosystem; Barcelona Activa, a city-run service that supports entrepreneurs; and Barcelona Health Hub, which promotes innovation in digital health and its transfer to the health sector.
鈥淲e wanted to showcase not only what we鈥檙e doing in 天美传媒 but also the Barcelona entrepreneurial ecosystem,鈥� said Eddy Zakes, head of 天美传媒鈥檚 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center.
Following the visits, alumni will return to the Barcelona campus for tours of the Venture Hub, a new space that brings all 天美传媒鈥檚 entrepreneurship activities 鈥� including research, financing, legal advice, teaching and training 鈥� under one roof.
The day ends with two panels. The first, called Managing Emerging Technologies, will feature Luis Manent of Wide Eyes Technologies; Barcelona Supercomputing Center鈥檚 Aleix Mart铆; Pilar Troncoso of Oaro Technologies; and Worldsensing鈥檚 Ignasi Vilajosana. Prof. Thomas Klueter will moderate the panel.
The second panel is focused on impact startups, and will feature: Emiliano Kargieman of Satellogic; BMB Group鈥檚 Mohamad Khacha; Emre Fadillioglu of App Samurai; and Gemma Sorigu茅, founder of Deliberry. Professor Julia Prats will moderate.
Academic Sessions and Charity Run
On Friday, the academic sessions begin, under the leadership of academic director professor Pedro Videla. Speakers include:
- Tal Ben-Shahar, a well-known lecturer and author, will speak on the science of happiness
- Kathleen McGinn, professor at Harvard Business School, will talk about women in leadership and gender issues
- Micky Lawler, president of the Women鈥檚 Tennis Association, will talk about driving innovation and growth in sports
- David Carmona, general manager of artificial intelligence at Microsoft, will reflect on data-driven innovation
- Agustin Carstens, general manager of the Bank for International Settlements, and Jaime Caruana, independent member of BBVA鈥檚 board of directors, will give their vision of the geopolitical and economic outlook
On Saturday, there will be an 8km Solidarity Run through the Collserola Natural Park, which overlooks Barcelona. About 200 runners are expected to take part in the race, with funds raised supporting 天美传媒鈥檚 scholarship project. The scholarships are earmarked for candidates with the academic and professional qualifications to attend 天美传媒, but without the financial resources.
鈥淭his is good for our community, good for these candidates and a very nice project to support,鈥� said Mu帽oz.


