AI, geoeconomics and the future of work take center stage at the Esade Alumni International Gathering in London
In a world shaped by artificial intelligence, geopolitical tensions and new ways of working, leaders need to combine human judgement, geopolitical awareness, trust and adaptability. This was one of the main messages of the Esade Alumni International Gathering held in London, where participants reflected on how technological disruption, geoeconomics and the future of work are reshaping leadership, business strategy and the role of business education.
Hosted at the St. Pancras London Autograph Collection, the event brought together nearly 150 alumni and business leaders, with the participation of Esade’s Director General, Daniel Traça; Esade Alumni President, Jorge Alcover; and Esade Alumni International Director, Olaya García-Lancha. It focused on three key challenges for companies and business schools: navigating the new geoeconomic context, placing human judgement at the heart of AI transformation, and developing new forms of leadership and collaboration.
“In a world that seems to be moving towards less social, economic, political and individual freedom, at Esade we need to double down on what we stand for: openness and freedom for companies, individuals and society,” said Daniel Traça, Director General of Esade. Traça framed this commitment as part of Esade’s mission, values and meaningful impact: strengthening its role as a more technology-focused business school, helping leaders understand and anticipate geopolitical trends, fostering critical and creative thinking in the age of AI, and attracting talent that believes in the possibility of a different world and shares the institution’s values.
A new geoeconomic and geopolitical scenario for leaders and companies
In a year marked by tariffs, trade tensions and geopolitical uncertainty, the environment in which business leaders make decisions has changed. Companies are being forced to rethink their strategies, adapt to a more complex global landscape and incorporate geopolitical analysis into business decision-making.
This was one of the main ideas discussed during the panel “Borders, Powers and Markets”, moderated by Jorge Galindo, Director of EsadeEcPol, with the participation of Carsten Nickel, Managing Director at Teneo, and Thomas Gratowski, Director of the BCG Center for Geopolitics. “I see a massive shift from political risk advisory towards strategies and techniques such as scenario planning,” said Nicke.
“These questions have reached CEO level, with companies actively trying to link geopolitical events back to their operational baseline assumptions, stress testing and assumption testing.” Gratowski agreed that geopolitics has moved beyond the risk function and has become a central factor in corporate strategy. “For companies to be successful in a much more uncertain and turbulent world, it is essential to take geopolitical factors into account,” he said. “Business leaders are already waking up to the realization that geoeconomics and political dynamics are part of the core strategic decisions they need to make today. It is a slow wake-up, but it is unavoidable,” said Galindo.
Human judgement at the heart of AI transformation
Omar Puertas, Esade professor and Legal Innovation Partner at Harvey, addressed the main changes and challenges posed by artificial intelligence as it transforms the world of work and the environment in which companies operate. He argued that AI can turn people into “augmented professionals”, provided they understand both its potential and its limitations.
Because AI is prone to hallucinations and does not truly understand the content it produces, but rather calculates probabilities, Puertas stressed that human judgement must remain central, especially in creative and decision-making processes. “
You think first, and then, only then, you use AI. If you do that, the machine makes you better,” said Puertas. In his view, the future of AI should not be framed as a replacement for people, but as an opportunity to enhance human capabilities. “Learn AI but understand that it is not here to replace or substitute you; it is here to make you better and augment your capabilities. The machine must be the ‘what’, and you need to be the ‘why’.”
Leading and collaborating in the future of work
The final panel focused on one of the key questions for society, the economy and business schools: what the future of work will look like. Introduced by Luke Jahn, President of Esade Alumni London, and moderated by Lilian Loyola, Board Member of Esade Alumni London and founder of From→To, the session brought together alumni Natalia Hariharan, HR BP Director at BNP Paribas, and Dan Duckart, VP at Expedia Group, to discuss leadership, collaboration and the impact of AI on work.
“AI is changing the way people work: they are going to work more, faster and better. But people will still rely on their leaders,” said Hariharan. “Leaders will be expected to create cultures where people feel they belong and where they feel psychologically safe to be who they are.” Hariharan stressed that future leaders will need to lead with empathy and foster trust. Duckart highlighted the role of cross-functional teams, which he described as more autonomous, agile and effective.
Esade Alumni, a lifelong global network
The London event also highlighted the role of Esade Alumni as a global network that supports professionals throughout their careers. The association brings together more than 83,000 members and 74 international chapters, offering opportunities for learning, networking, professional development and shared impact.
“It starts as soon as you graduate, continues throughout your professional career and, even when you reach the top, it is about sharing experiences and supporting one another,” said Jorge Alcover, President of Esade Alumni. “Once you finish your studies at Esade, you are part of this path, and we hope you continue to carry forward Esade’s values and mission.”