references
EDITORIAL
Magazine for the alumni of ESADE
esadealumni@alumni.esade.edu www.esadealumni.net
A new paradigm for companies
Economic globalisation runs in parallel to the emergence of a multipolar and atomised world. This creates an environment of political uncertainty that presents both risks and opportunities for companies. Managers must be aware of the specific characteristics of each environment, therefore geoeconomics should be integrated into strategic analysis, particularly in Europe, where along with the integration process, resistances and even regressive tendencies towards disintegration are presented. Ángel Pascual-Ramsay, manager of Global Risks at the Centre for Global Economy and Geopolitics of ESADEgeo, and Álvaro Imbernón, a researcher at the same centre, analyse this trend. Special attention is also paid to innovation, especially technological innovation, which can help local governments face the challenges of urban governance and improve environments in order to increase the competitiveness of cities. Thanks to Mila Gascó, associate director of the Centre for Innovation in Cities – Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Management, we can reflect on how we manage these challenges and how innovation feeds new smart cities, generating new business opportunities. Aware of the necessity to foster the essential innovative spirit, ESADE Business School has signed an agreement with Aalto University, considered a global leader in innovation. With this new international partnership, ESADE expands its educational offer and support to entrepreneurs and managers who are committed to innovation through design and technology. And the 21st-century labour market demands transversal competences that allow us to deal with uncertain environments, such as communication skills, interpersonal relationships, self-management and the ability to learn. We will analyse leading reports on the labour market, which will give us some clues about the future. And we will also see how law firms, the leading players of the Functions & Sectors section of this issue, have adapted to new challenges. I want to take this opportunity to invite you to participate in the next two major alumni meetings: The Annual Conference on May 21 in Barcelona and the Global ESADE Alumni Meeting on June 6 in New York. Because we are a large network with a common goal: to grow together and share experiences to achieve new goals.
BOARD:
vice-presidents
Members: Maite Barrera, Javier Castro, Carmina Ganyet, Francisco Longo, Tomás Muniesa, Carmen Mur, Oriol Pinya, Ignasi Rafel Celada, Pedro Riera, Joan Sureda, Oliver Straehle and Carlos Ventura Manager of ESADE Alumni: Xavier Sanchez Executive Director: Patricia Sotelo Editorial Committee: Xavier Sanchez, Francisco Longo, Oriol Llop and Ferran Ramon Cortés
DESIGN AND LAYOUT: COMUNICAS CONTENT MARKETING, S. L.
Coordination: Olga Ortega Artistic Management: Rosa Baldrich Layout: Juan Antonio Franco Linguistic Coordinator: Production: Rosa Ausió Advertising: Manel Carruesco Anna Terrones
The authors hold exclusive responsibility for the opinions expressed in the articles. Publication of the articles of this magazine is permitted as long as the source is cited. Legal deposit: Publications controlled by
Miguel Trías Sagnier (MBA 89) ESADE Alumni President