Olga Sánchez: “We need adaptive leaders who are continually learning”
The Chief Executive Officer of AXA Seguros España and President of the AXA Foundation, Olga Sánchez, was the patron of EAE Busin
EAE Business School Barcelona, owned by Planeta Formación y Universidades, held its graduation ceremony today to celebrate the achievement of more than 1,900 students who have completed different Masters, MBAs and Bachelor Degrees in the 2022-2023 academic year. Held in Barcelona’s Palau Sant Jordi the event was hosted by José Creuheras, the President of Grupo Planeta, who welcomed Olga Sánchez, the Chief Executive Officer of AXA Seguros España and President of the AXA Foundation, as the patron of the graduating class.
Other prominent figures to attend the event included Carlos Giménez, the CEO of Planeta Formación y Universidades; Montse Civera, the Academic Director of Planeta Formación y Universidades; José Luis Fernández, the General Director of EAE Business School Barcelona, and Enric Ordeix, the Dean of EAE Business School Barcelona.
“THE WORLD NEEDS ADAPTIVE LEADERS”
“If I could go back, with the experience I now have, I would dismantle a few preconceived ideas”. Olga Sánchez, the patron of the graduating class, began a powerful and personal speech by destroying myths and discussing the knowledge that she would have appreciated having when she graduated.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of AXA, “the first myth, without a doubt, is that your learning ends with your studies”. “Experts talk about a BANI world, that is Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear and Incomprehensible”, so “the world today needs adaptive leaders who are continually learning to tackle increasingly complex situations” explained Sánchez.
The senior director of AXA Seguros España went on to debunk a second myth, that “the professional world is increasingly harder”, when, within a context of interlinked disruptions and challenges, the only way forward is “embracing and leading change. Leading it decisively with commitment and passion”. The third myth she addressed was the fear of failure. “Fail fast, fail cheap and learn along the way”, because “resilience is one of the key character traits of leaders who succeed”, she emphasized.
“A leader is only worth as much as their team. Surround yourself with bosses and colleagues who are generous and humble, who you can learn from, and whose example is crucial for your development”, continued Olga Sánchez with respect to overcoming the need for recognition and encouraging the search for diversity of thought as a valuable asset in companies.
“Never stop believing in your power, the capacity for people to change things by moving because the only thing that differentiates companies and institutions is the quality of its people, its talent”. “Nowadays, everything can be copied, but the essence of who you are, your soul, is authentic and yours alone”, concluded Sánchez, followed by a standing ovation from the audience and an emotional round of applause from the graduates in response to an emotive call for genuine, ambitious and transformational leadership.
In her speech, Montse Civera, the Academic Director of Planeta Formación y Universidades, highlighted the ethical leadership advocated in the classrooms of EAE Business School Barcelona. “The true essence of your education comes from the values that have been transmitted to you in this great business school. Not only do we teach you to be excellent professionals, but also to be ethical, responsible leaders”.
Next, the Dean of EAE Business School Barcelona, Enric Ordeix, highlighted the students’ transformational capacity after their studies at EAE: “Our job is to give you the knowledge to be agents of impact, enhancing your critical thinking and innovative spirit. You are now equipped to lead the sustainable change of organizations and society”.
Revive the best moments of the EAE Barcelona Graduation 2023
SPECIAL AWARDS
The graduation ceremony was also the perfect opportunity to highlight the work of some of the companies that work closely with EAE Barcelona, as well as recognizing the lecturers who have been best rated by the School’s students. The Top Recruiter Award went to Bayer, the flagship pharmaceutical sector in the Catalan capital, while the Strategic Partner Award went to Tech Barcelona, the acclaimed association that promotes technological innovation of the very highest level in Barcelona. The awards were collected by Ona García, the Head of Talent Management Iberia, EMEA Talent Acceleration and Culture at Bayer, and Juan Baselga, the Director of Institutional Relations at Tech Barcelona, respectively.
One of the awards that got the biggest response from the audience was the Teaching Excellence Awards, which went to Anna Ripoll, the Director of the Master in UX & Customer Experience, and Armando Salvador, the Director of the Master in Digital Marketing & E-Commerce and Director of the EAE Entrepreneur Incubation Program.
In line with EAE Barcelona's innovative nature, the School's also presented the Innovative Iniciative Award to four students on the International MBA, all of whom were finalists in Babson College’s Collaborative Global Student Challenge, for their project “From The First Day”, which aims to fight bullying in schools. Susana Arteaga, Ramiro González Toscano, Jorge Lira Gaete and Irina Romanchuk received the award, highlighting the fact that this was the second year in a row that a project from EAE Barcelona has made it into the final of this prestigious global competition.
AN EMOTIVE CEREMONY
One of the most meaningful moments of the ceremony was the presentation of the graduation sashes to each of the students, whose names were carefully read out by the presenters of the event, Helena Resano, the journalist and presenter of La Sexta Noticias, and Carles Lamelo, the Director and presenter of the program ‘Gente Viajera’ on Onda Cero. They were followed by four representatives of the graduating class, Víctor Gil Ginestà and María José Fernández Sikic from the Executive MBA, Daria Tsiomashko from the Master in International Business, and Juan José Garrido from the Bachelor Degree in Business Administration and Management, who came to the stage to share their experiences in emotive speeches.
During the ceremony, a video was shown with all the congratulations from the students’ families and friends from all around the world, causing a real buzz throughout the audience in the Palau Sant Jordi, particularly when loved ones sent messages from far away.
The celebration culminated with the traditional Gaudeamus Igitur and a performance by a gospel choir of the classic Queen song “Don’t Stop Me Now”, rounding off an unforgettable day that will long be remembered fondly by all the attendees.
