08 Goodbye E50E50

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MAR09

“Unity is variety, and variety in unity is the supreme law of the universe.” Isaac Newton

Living with diversityEd

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2 Summary Editorial

Just lift up your head and look around; touch, smell and listen to everything around you. In just a second you realise the great diversity of natu-re, of which we all form part – each in his or her own way.

At ESADE, this diversity thrives. As soon as you walk in the door, you are aware of a community where many differences coexist: differences in knowledge, ideology and even the languages spoken in the hallways. At ESADE, we live with and respect differences. In fact, they form part of our essence as an institution. Diversity enriches us, opens our minds and teaches us to be better people.

In order that we all may remember this – and in particular, so that we may proactively work to de-velop and interiorise this sense of diversity in our growing and internationalising community – we have recently created a Diversity Committee.

The word ‘committee’ is not pretty, but it is conci-se. It will take a little longer to explain the purpo-se and goals of this new body:

The Committee is a group of people employed in different services and academic departments at ESADE who will work together to analyse our di-versity, and to propose and develop projects ai-med at showing that we are a community that respects – and enriches itself through – differ-ences.

The Committee is not responsible for ‘ensuring our diversity’; we are all responsible for this task. But it will be in charge of our first projects related to gender, ideology and compatibility. We trust that others will follow in the footsteps of the Com-

mittee, and that many of you, with your everyday attitudes, will make sure that these projects become part of our day-to-dayreality.

If you would like to learn more about the Diversity Committee, just ask any of its members (listed here in alphabetical order): Mauri Añaños, Glòria Batllori, Carita Benejam, Teresa Careta, Ivana Casaburi, Miguel Ángel García Tejero, Enrique Jurado, Silvia Muñoz and Montse Zurano. You can also ask any of the people who spearheaded this project: Technical Secretary Enrique López Viguria and Ana Solá and David Fernández-Manzanos of the PAS Human Resources Service.

Thank you!

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Fam

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sOn a day like today 1986 (17th March) research, jointly conducted by Patronat Català Pro Europa and ESADE,

presented to the media.

1997 (17th and 18th March) ESADE and IESE organised a seminar on ‘Challenges and

Opportunities in Management Development in Spain and Latin America’.

1812 (19th March) The first Spanish Constitution approved in Cadiz.

8th March: International Women’s Day

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What about you?

E-News

The portrait

Cyan salon

E-News

Plural thinking

Living with diversity

Colaborations:

Jatinder Jit Singh (The wedding), Xavier Solanellas (The new arrival’s been named ‘University Smart Card’), Servicio Lingüístico (Langua-ge Advisory Service Changes).Checking text & translation:

Language AdvisoryDesign art direction:

Sintagma, Edicions CorporativesImprent:

Imgesa

Editorial board:

José Mª Álvarez de LaraÓscar BistuéIvana CasaburiGema CastelJosep M. ContijochAnna DíazDavid Fernández-Manzanos

José Antonio MengualSusana MotillaAdela NebotSusana PérezAna SoláJosep SolerMónica Sisternas

CREDITS

This magazine is printed on recycled paper

This month’spersonality

Cyan salon

This month’spersonality

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3What about you?

The ESADE Institutional Relations Office, located in Madrid, is responsible for promoting ESADE’s brand image and reputation by transmitting our school’s differential value. It performs these tasks in accordance with the strategic plan developed by the General Management and the General Secretariat. Its area of activity is mainly limited to the Spanish capital, but can be extended to any geographical area as dictated by business needs.

To carry out its mission, the management of Institutional Relations focuses on the following areas:

• Building and managing a network that includes ESADE’s main stakeholders (companies, the Spanish government, the govern-ments of the various autonomous communities, associations, etc.) in order to strengthen ESADE’s reputation and institutional reach. These activities may draw on the capacities of other parts of the institution, such as Executive Education, Fundraising and Career Services, in order to increase their impact.

• Developing and executing activities that position us as a point of reference in feeding and fostering debate, such as lectures, confer-ences, special projects such as the ESADE Brand Centre Awards

and the Observatory on Spanish Multinational Companies, and any research projects made possible by our network that help to boost ESADE’s reputation.

• Coordinating the Professional Advisory Board.

• Identifying, establishing contact with, and promoting ESADE’s pres-ence in any associations, forums, etc., that may be useful as instru-ments of relationship networking and brand promotion.

• Coordinating, from the Madrid campus, ESADE’s external image in order to optimise its reputation through Executive Education, Ca-reer Services and ESADE Alumni.

Institutional Relations

José María de la Villa RiviereMr. de la Villa joined ESADE in early 2006. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the Sarrià Chemistry Institute, an EMBA from IESE and a SEP® certificate from ESADE. He previously served as Director of Metrópolis Seguros Generales, Director of the Collective Forecasting and Companies Area at Zurich Financial Services, Financial Director of Kairos, and Investment Director of Sud América Compañía de Seguros de Vida. In recent years, before joining ESADE, he carried out ac-ademic work focusing on business policy and executive skills at the San Telmo International Institute in Seville, at Antonio de Nebrija University, at La Salle University, and at various firms and institutions, including Indra, Altadis, Decathlon, Doux, Pescanova, Magenta, the Spanish Association of Mining Engineers, the Madrid Chamber of Commerce, the Confedera-tion of Employers and Industries of Spain (Cantabria Chapter), Swiss Re and the Sant Boi Hospital.

María Luisa GarateYears ago I discovered origami, a hobby that is not as easy as it seems. I also enjoy reading, especially about topics of personal growth; I am a member of Brahma Kumaris. I also like cooking – my favourite recipe is donostiarra-style tuna with toma-toes and pea pods. And of course I like football! I’m a supporter of Real Sociedad, but ever since they were relegated to second division I’ve been rooting for Athletic Bilbao: their matches are true family events.

Maiteder BasteroI have fun with my daughter and my husband – spending time with them is my favourite thing to do. My other ‘hobbies’ include my family and friends. I just love to chat with them, catch up, and make plans. I like travelling (outside of Eu-rope, if possible) and reading books (which are another way to travel and meet people).

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A month before the wedding

The wedding was scheduled for 3rd Au-gust in the city of Amritsar in the Pun-jab province (my home state), but the wedding planning and ceremonies had already started before my arrival in In-dia. Just a few weeks before leaving Barcelona, I invited my colleagues Sílvia, Tamara, Oriol and Ivana to my office to witness my soon-to-be wife’s ‘bangle cer-emony’ via a live online transmission. This ceremony is similar to the pre-wed-ding tradition of the ‘bridal shower’ in the United States. During this ceremony, the bride-to-be, in the presence of her family and friends and amidst music, mirth and dance, wears a string of colourful glass bracelets, also known as ‘bangles’, on both forearms. I’m not really sure about the symbolic meaning of this ceremony, but if you see a young Punjabi woman wearing lots of colourful bangles (all the way from the wrist to the elbow) on both arms, you can safely assume that she’s going to get married pretty soon.

A week before the wedding

As we entered the last week of July, my family held a religious ceremony in the local Sikh temple (also known as the Gu-rudwara) in my hometown of Kapurthala to which we invited all our relatives and friends. The ceremony involved reciting hymns from the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, followed by a luncheon hosted by my parents. This ceremony was not only a religious ceremony, but also a social one; for it provided a plat-form for all the relatives to visit us before the wedding and catch up with me, as I’d been living abroad and hadn’t seen most of my cousins for years. I should mention here that in the same time frame, Shelly’s (my future wife at the time) family had a similar ceremony in her hometown of Amritsar.

Two days before the wedding, Shelly had what is called a ‘henna ceremony’ or a ‘mehndi ceremony’ in which the bride-to-be has very intricate patterns (like tattoos) drawn on her hands, forearms and feet by a professional henna artist. These designs last for about a month be-fore they wear off.

The night before the wedding

The night before the wedding is always crazy. All the relatives, friends and neighbours were gathered at my place. Our whole family was there, as my only

sibling – my younger sister – had finally arrived that very day from the United States. We had booked a DJ, complete with all the fancy lights, the loud boom boxes and a dance floor that was go-ing to be set up on the terrace. And as you might have guessed, this evening marked a very joyous and exhilarating time when all our relatives and friends danced for hours to the coolest and the latest Bhangra beats and Bollywood numbers. Punjabis are known for be-ing very expressive when it comes to dancing and celebrating, and even my 80-year-old grandpa was unstoppable. While some people were busy dancing, others were enjoying a Punjabi dinner provided by a local caterer that we had hired. The celebrations lasted until about 3 o’clock in the morning before we finally decided to call it a night. I called Shelly just before crashing and she mentioned that they had also just

finished with their festivities, which in-cluded pretty much what we did plus an additional ceremony called the ‘choora’. During this ceremony, the girl takes off her glass bangles and puts on a set of wedding bracelets. These are plastic and mostly red and white in colour, and completely cover both forearms.

The big day: 3rd August, 2008

Some relatives were staying in town and some had left the night before. But eve-ryone was supposed to regroup at our house at 8 o’clock in the morning. I was up at 6 a.m. and, after a quick shower, embarked upon my attempt to adorn a perfect turban. This is probably one of the most important symbols of the Sikh religion, signifying courage, spir-ituality and self respect. Although I’m

The wedding“I feel as if I’m in an oven.” This was the first thing I said to my parents when I arrived at New Delhi airport in the 3rd week of July, not having visited India during the summer months for over 5 years. But the summer of 2008 was special; I was getting married.

Jatinder Jit Singh, Marketing Department’s Teacher

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I was embarked upon

my attempt to adorn

a perfect turban. This

is probably one of the

most important symbols

of the Sikh religion,

signifying courage,

spiritually and self

respect.

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not a baptised Sikh in the strict sense and don’t normally wear a turban, I wanted to look like a traditional Sikh on my wedding day: truly majestic. My turban was further decorated by a shin-ing headband called the ‘sehra’, which my sister put around my head. Finally, I was handed a ceremonial sword by my uncle. At this point I was feeling like a Maharaja (even though it was only go-ing to last for a day).

The wedding procession of about 70 people left my hometown of Kapurthala at 8.30 a.m. sharp for Amritsar, which is about 80 kilometres away, in a caval-cade of cars. We reached the pre-deter-mined spot in Amritsar within the hour. As I got out of the car, I saw a neatly decorated horse and a brass band wait-ing by the side of the road. According to the tradition, the groom is supposed to arrive at the girl’s house on horseback – a remnant from the old days. I was ex-cited and scared at the same time, as it was the first time in my life that I had ever ridden a horse.

On arrival, Shelly’s family was ready to welcome us at the front entrance of the hotel. After a brief prayer by the local priest, the two families met formally (the ceremony called ‘milni’, meaning meet-ing) and we all entered the banquet hall. After having the customary snacks and breakfast, we all left for the Gurudwara for the actual wedding ceremony, which is known as the ‘Anand Karaj’, meaning blissful union. It was at the Gurudwara that I first saw my wife-to-be that day, as she came in accompanied by her sisters and friends once everyone else had taken their seats. I couldn’t take my eyes off her for a few seconds as she was absolutely gorgeous in her red wedding dress and elaborate jewellery. We were both seated on the floor next to each other facing the holy book, united by a long red scarf; Shelly holding one end and I the other. After reading a few verses, the priest cued us both to get up and start walking around the book very slowly, and in a clockwise fashion. Another priest was reciting a hymn as we walked. After going around the holy book in a complete circle, we bowed in front of it and sat down once again. This process was repeated three more times. The completion of the last circle around the holy book marked the completion of the wedding ceremony, and people on both sides started congratulating our respective parents. After a final prayer we all left the Gurudwara for the hotel, but this time my new wife was by my side, holding my hand.

When we got to the hotel, we both sat next to each other on two seats that were placed on a raised platform and relatives and friends from both sides came up to us to wish us well. We had a brief photo session, and then it was

time for the dancing to get under way. We didn’t have what they call the first dance; it was more like a group dance with all the family involved. After the dance, lunch was served.

At this point it was almost 4 p.m. and we were ready to leave. And now came

the saddest part of the day – the fare-well ceremony, called the ‘doli’. It was time for Shelly to leave her family, her parents, the city where she grew up in order to start a new life with me. While bidding farewell to her mother, father and other relatives, she couldn’t stop the tears rolling down her cheeks, and neither could they. As we walked out of the front entrance, the beautifully deco-rated bridal car was waiting for us; and after a round of final goodbyes we were on our way back home.

One month after the wedding

I’m back in Barcelona, writing this ar-ticle in my apartment, all by myself. We’re still waiting for the paperwork to be completed so that my wife can actu-ally join me in Spain. It could take up to a year, maybe more. We both find this situation very frustrating, but we know that the love we share will help us face the separation, and the separation that we face will help us love each other ever more.

Jatinder Jit Singh

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After going around the

holy book in a complete

circle, we bowed in front

of it and sat down once

again. This process was

repeated three more

times.

“

“

It was time for the

dancing to get under

way. We didn’t have what

they call the first dance;

it was more like a group

dance with all the family

involved.

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6 E-News

The journal OCU-Salud recent-ly conducted a survey on blood donation. The results are crys-tal clear: those surveyed know that blood donation saves lives, and 35% have done so at least once. Nevertheless, only 15% give blood regularly. To make matters worse, it has been demonstrated that many potential donors are lost due to a lack of information (about the real risks, the donation cir-cumstances, etc.). Something must be done to increase the

162 Donors in most recent Blood Drive

number of donations. That’s why, in collaboration with the Spanish blood bank, ESADE plans to hold two on-campus blood drives each year, in May and November. Our goal is to raise awareness and increase the blood reserves available to our hospitals. Giving blood takes just five minutes. It’s easy, and it doesn’t cost any-thing. This simple act can save many lives, since there is always a need for blood: any type of surgery, as well as

many other types of treatment, require blood transfusions. On 11th and 12th November of last year, 162 members of the ESADE community do-nated blood. We hope to see you all again at our next blood drive in May. Remember: once is not enough!

Esade Law School CAREER FORUM 2009 A total of 27 national and in-ternational law firms attended this year’s ESADE Law School Career Forum. The firms at-tended the event to recruit talent from among our under-graduate degree and Master in Law programme. The event took place on 23rd and 24th February, when students had a chance to make contact with the professional world. Many of the participating firms offer a corporate presentation – or

group dynamics and debat-ing sessions – in classrooms at the Law School in order to facilitate interaction with 4th- and 5th-year undergradu-ate students and postgrads. Firms also have a stand at ESADEFORUM where they can receive applications from those interested in taking part in internships or in participat-ing in selection processes. Our students have a chance to talk with Law School alum-

ni currently working for these firms and who are able to of-fer a clear and personal view of the professional field.

Firms participating this year were: Baker & McKenzie, Bar-tolomé & Briones, BDO, Bové Montero, Clifford Chance, Cua-trecasas, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Font Abogados y Econo-mistas, Freshfields, Garrigues, Jausas, KPMG, Landwell-Price-waterhouseCoopers, Latham &

Watkins, Legalia Abogados, Manubens, Monereo Meyer Marinel-lo Abogados, Pedrosa Lagos, Pérez Llorca, Roca Ju- nyent, Rodés & Sala, Sagardoy, Uría Menéndez and Vialegis. The firms Adecco Finance & Consulting and Mercer had also been participating with stands.

This event has been organised by the Career Services team at the Law School: Sandra Enzler, Service Director, Isabel Roca

and Silvia Argilés, Associate Di-rectors, and Susana Motilla, Service Secretary.

Career Services have also pub-lished a printed guide contain-ing information concerning the selection process of each of the participating firms.

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The baby’s father, Mr Universi-ty, and her mother, Mrs Smart, have decided to call their new arrival Card because, in their words, “our daughter is very much like the famous VISA and her twin sister, Master-Card. That’s why we’ve called her TUI. We realise she won’t be as well known internatio-nally, but we think she’ll have a great future within ESADE”. They couple were overjoyed.

Mrs Smart explained to us that the delivery was long-drawn-out and complicated. Fortuna-

tely, the difficulties that arose were resolved by the TIC de-partment, Aramark and a se-ries of external partners, who have joined forces to form a solid team with a single goal: to ensure TUI’s success.

Since she arrived, TUI has had a lot of work to do. She’s only two months old and has already started working with some of the TIC staff and se-veral other ESADE volunteers. You might well ask yourself: “But what’s a babe in arms doing working in an institution

like ours?”. Well, it’s simple, TUI helps us pay for meals wi-thout having to carry around the famous ‘meal vouchers’. She can also be used to pay for coffee in the cafeteria, and even to buy drinks from one of the vending machines in Buil-ding 1’s cafeteria.

The new arrival’s been named “University Smart Card”

Good morning, TUI. How are you?Good morning, everyone. I’m fine thanks [she says winking at us]. But a little nervous, as this is the first formal interview I’ve ever given. Of course, it’s a pleasure working with you all.

That’s what I like to hear, TUI. For those of us who haven’t had the chance to meet you, could you explain what your job at ESADE will entail?Of course. My main aim is to facilitate the work of all those who form part of the ESADE community. I’ll be working mainly for PAS staff, faculty, students, external firms, and so on. Everyone will have their very own TUI, which they’ll be able to use to pay for meals in the cafeteria, drinks from vending machines in the cafeteria and bars (starting with the bar Building 1)... but I won’t just come in handy to pay for things. Because with TUI, you can open office doors, get into the new building in Sant Cugat, and reserve books in the Library...

Sorry, did you just mention Sant Cugat? Indeed I did [she laughs]. When you walk into the Sant Cugat building, you’re faced with a row of turnstiles that can be activated using your TUI

card. You won’t be able to get in without your TUI. Basically, you won’t be able to live without me. I’ll be just like my cousin, DNI.

And what about visitors?When you have visitors, they’ll be issued with their own temporary TUI.

In that case, what do I have to do to get my TUI?At the moment TUIs are being ordered for all PAS and faculty members. They’ll be sent out as soon as we get them. It’s very important to keep your photo updated on the Intranet... Bear in mind that it’ll be this one that’s going on your TUI, and I think I saw a photo that...

All right, all right. I get the point: My photo’s not the greatest. How can I change the photo that’s on my TUI? It’s really easy. You can manage your TUI via the website. All you have to do is get on the Intranet and, once you’ve logged on, click on “e-office” at the top of the screen. You’ll see a drop down menu and will have to select “Smart Card”. The following window will tell you about all the things you can do with your new TUI: check your balance and track transactions, change cost

centre, cancel your TUI (in the case of loss or theft) or reactivate it (once you get your new TUI, you should “reactivate it” to be able to use it), change your picture... You can even sign a digital document... but that would be best left for another interview...I recommend clicking on the help link that you’ll find in the “e-office” Smart Card menu. There you’ll find a detailed explanation of how to go about recharging your TUI, check your balance, and so on.

Fantastic, TUI. And judging from what I’ve seen so far, you’ll be the princess of Sant Cugat!That’s right. I’ll be the princess of Sant Cugat, but if all goes well, I’ll probably be crowned Queen of ESADE as well [she laughs].

TUI, thank you very much for talking to us, and the best of luck for the future.Thank you. And remember: You’ll have a TUI of your own soon. The sooner you active me, the sooner you’ll be able to work with me! See you around.

How does TUI work? Well to find out, we’ve seized the opportunity to interview her on her tour around the TIC

This concludes the interview with one of ESADE’s first TUI. As we heard, the new TUI card will represent an important technological leap for everyone at ESADE. There’ll be no need to carry around ‘meal vouchers’ any longer, nor loose change to buy a Coke from the vending machines. And the new card will also represent an improvement in terms of accessing facilities, and we’ll even be able to use it to put digital signatures on electronic documents.

I hope you’ve found this interview interesting. See you soon!

Xavier Solanellas

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Last october has ushered in some chang-es to the Language Advisory Service. On the one hand, Antònia Rigo has hand-ed over the running of the Service to her colleague, Gabriel Genescà. Although now semi-retired, Antònia will continue to be actively involved in providing linguistic support for ESADE. On the other hand, Francis G. Linn has definitively joined the

Language Advisory Service, and will be in charge of the English Language Area. This will consolidate the LAS internally, given that in recent years there has been a significant increase in translation, re-vision and transcription services in the three institutional languages (Catalan, Spanish and English) in addition to sev-eral others.

In parallel to translating and editing, the Language Advisory Service organises Catalan language courses for non-Cata-lan speakers among ESADE’s adminis-trative personnel, faculty, and doctoral candidates from overseas. The LAS will also continue its academic involvement with a class on communication skills, to be delivered as part of the new Bachelor

in Business Administration (BBA). The ESADE Language Advisory Service is on the 2nd floor of Building 1, Office 218, and office hours are between 10 am – 2 pm and 3 pm – 5 pm. For further information go to : www.esade.edu/sl.

Language Advisory Service Changes

On 15th and 19th of September, 268 students from the Bachelor in Business Administration-BBA degree and 148 students from the Law degree, respectively, took part in the Introductory Lectures leading up to the start of the new academic year. These events have been designed to familiarise students with the institution where they will be studying over the next four years. Students will find out about ESADE’s values and ways of working, along with the methodology involved in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), which will take effect as of the start of the degree course.

The introductory session for the Law degree, which took place on 19th September, began with a welcome event in which the Dean of the Law School, Pedro Mirosa, and the Vice-Dean of the Law School, Teresa Duplá, took part. The Director of the Degree in Law Programme, Maria Dolores Bardají, and the Director of the First Cycle Degree

in Law Programme, Belén Trias de Bes, then explained the curriculum and the tutorial system. This was followed by presentations by Career Services, ESADE Alumni, the Exchange Programme, Languages, the Law School Volunteer and Social Action Programme, the Student Representatives’ Council and the various alumni associations, the Library Service, Information and Communication Technologies (TIC) and the Religious Guidance Service (SAR).

The BBA events were spread over four days, from 15th to 18th September. The opening ceremony was presided over by the Director General of Fundación ESADE, Carlos Losada, the Dean of ESADE Business School, Alfons Sauquet, the Executive Director of the Academic Programmes Unit, Carlo Gallucci, the Faculty President, Francisco Longo, Director of the Bachelor in Business Administration-BBA, Xari Rovira, and the Student Representative

Council, represented by David Moreta. Alumni associations and various student services were presented along with other activities, including group sessions on company identity and values. Students also took part in a social event, to help them prepare for the new course ahead. They also attended the talks on “Identity and Values of ESADE”, “Introduction to the business world”, “The first-year curriculum of the EHEA” and “Learning: a mutual commitment”.

These events were attended by around seventy people, including speakers, collaborators, and faculty and administrative staff. We would like to take this opportunity to thank those who took part, and, in general, those who participated directly and indirectly, for all their efforts and congratulate them on the event’s success. See you next year!

Your Degree Starts Here

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E50E50Goodbye E50

The closing ceremony to mark the end of ESADE’s 50th anniversary celebrations was held at ESADEFORUM in a joint celebration with ESADE’s Christmas cocktail reception on 18th December. To draw this special occasion to a close, we have put together a collection of some of the more intense, yet at the same time wonderful, moments of the last year.

During ESADE’s anniversary year, our theme was to express our values based on three premises: experiencing, sharing and celebrating. All of the year’s events have enabled us to become a little more familiar with ESADE’s past. If we don’t know where we come from, it will be much more difficult for us to know where we are going. Knowing how ESADE was founded, who its founders were as well as understanding their motives, is something that each of us should think about; as it is thanks to these very foundations that we can now understand our future and understand exactly how we came to be where we are today.

Reaching the half-century mark deserves to be celebrated in style. And as a result, as you will no doubt remember, this year ESADE has seen all kinds of activities, ranging from acts of solidarity to a photo contest and an Open Day, which, in spite of the rain, was in itself a day to remember – especially as it was spent in the company of our families. And, given that the Beijing Olympics were also held this year, ESADE – in an attempt at not being outdone – rather appropriately organised its own games.

We would like to thank all of you for your collaboration and participation in the E-50 events; because you have experienced, shared and celebrated something that has brought together ESADE’s past, present and future.

The closing ceremony to draw ESADE’s 50th anniversary celebrations to a close was livened up by the participation of several of our colleagues who shared with us their own experiences of some of the key moments in this anniversary year. Our memories were refreshed with photos and videos in what was, ultimately, a day for rounding off our anniversary celebrations; but, nevertheless, one filled with cheer and fond memories.

Hosting the event, Ana Solá and Ángel Castiñeira presented videos and invited the main protagonists of this year’s events to join them on stage

to explain in greater detail some of the things that had happened during this memorable year. To begin with, Ángel gave us a brief reminder of our collaboration with Arrels Foundació and the importance of helping those in need. He then explained what winning first prize in the photo competition meant to him, giving us a chance to take another look at the three winning photographs,

each of these reflecting a very personal vision of ESADE.

With her characteristic good humour, Valentina Luengo once again took to the ESADE stage to

give us a behind the scenes glimpse of how the 2007 Christmas cocktail, which served

to inaugurate our 50th anniversary, had been organised. Then, Cels Cardona

shared with us what the Open Day had meant to him and how he had enjoyed bringing his entire family to ESADE. And, looking back, it would be impossible to forget about the ESADE Olympics and all the anecdotes that three of those involved in those games shared with us: Sergi Fernández, Jaume Maranges and Jordi Mora.

Following on from this, Marcel Planellas offered a global

perspective of E-50, commenting in particular on its repercussions beyond

the walls of ESADE. Then Professor Josep Maria Lozano gave us his very own,

and rather amusing, view of the current crisis along with its origins and uncertain outcome.

As part of the event, we also celebrated one or two other anniversaries: 25 years’ service of twelve of our colleagues at ESADE:

María Josep Alcocer, Ángela Cadenas Santamaría, Teresa Muntada, Phillip-Ernest Gwilliam, Beth Lauri Kuhnlein, Patricia-Anne Little, Adela Nebot Hervas, Jesús Palau Montañana, Gracia Clemente Rodríguez, Antonio de Papua Sacrest Llosas, Pedro-Hernán Sepúlveda Gutiérrez and Michael Underwood. They each received gifts from ESADE’s Director General, Carlos Losada, who then wished everybody present a Merry Christmas before handing the floor over to three fellow colleagues: Luis Vives, Eugenia Bieto and Mauri Añaños. Expressing their own seasonal greetings, the latter of the trio finished off by singing the Christmas chart-topping Fum, fum, fum de ESADE to wish all at ESADE a Happy Holiday.

Following this special event to conclude ESADE’s 50th Anniversary, full of sentiment and meaning, the good cheer and festive spirit continued at the traditional ESADE Christmas cocktail reception.

Happy Anniversary ESADE! And may you have many more to come!

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E-News 9

ESADE has launched a new initiative: a range of articles carrying the stamp of our identity. Since last november, a complete line of products bearing the ESADE logo is available to all those who work and study at our institution. Items can be purchased online at www.esadeshop.com as well as from the Abacus store in Building 1. In addition to developing a full range of superb and high-quality articles, this initiative is firmly based on ESADE’s values. As commented by Colin McElwee, Director of Corporate Marketing, “The project’s true importance and identity lie in its social dimension, since all proceeds raised from the sale of this merchandise will go to the ESADE Grants Programme.” As a result, this initiative will help us continue to attract talented candidates to ESADE, regardless of their economic resources.

ESADE Merchandising is available since 17th November.

Merchandising with values

Our participants are all very different, both in terms of their country of origin as well as their business sectors and pro-fessions, which means that their goals and needs are just as varied. The ESADE MBA re-sponds to this diversity with flexibility and innovation, the best tools to facilitate an appro-priate response to the needs of those who join our programme every year.

In this regard, the Graduate Programmes Unit has prompt-ed a series of changes to the curriculum, format and image of the programme, creating a unique MBA within its catego-ry. Following the programme’s redesign, ESADE MBA par-ticipants starting in Septem-ber 2009 will now be able to choose the length of the pro-gramme in their first term. As a result, programmes will run

for either 12, 15 or 18 months, depending on participants’ specific needs. Participants looking to change sector and who therefore need a period of practice or intern-ship, or those who think that the added value of the interna-tional exchange programme is an essential part of their stud-ies, can extend the duration of the programme and complete it in 15 or 18 months.

The new logo The redesign of the pro-gramme’s curriculum and for-mat, and the underlying values behind this improvement, have required a change of image to accompany this new phase for the Unit. The new logo champi-ons those changes and intends to enhance the image of both ESADE and our MBA as one of the best programmes in the world.

The ESADE MBA: flexibility and innovation

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10 This month’s personality

How long have you been working at ESADE?Since September 2005.

What do you do here?I’m professor in the Department of Financial Manage-ment and Control, and Director of the Master in Eco-nomic-Financial Management in Madrid.

What did you think about the institution on your first day at ESADE? I’m an alumnus, so on top of the admiration I already felt for my old professors you have to add an equally high regard for the other professionals I hadn’t known during my studies at ESADE. This includes manage-ment, programme development and support staff, de-partmental staff, and so on.

And what about your colleagues?Professionalism, teamwork for shared goals, a cheerful and participatory work atmosphere, etc.

What’s been your best and worst experience at ESADE?This interview’s becoming rather tricky... I’ve got quite

If you were a historical character, you’d be… any anonymous person in the Middle Ages; or any of the inventors or thinkers who’ve contributed so much to future generations.

If you were a monument, you’d be… a fountain like the ones tourists throw coins into (as long as it doesn’t hurt).

If you were a animal, you’d be… a garden dormouse: that great unsung hero of the Iberian fauna…

If you were a sport, you’d be… the one that involves running in the countryside at dusk with a fully charged iPod.

If you were a book, you’d be… The Great Crash: 1929 by John Kenneth Galbraith, which is quite appropriate at the moment.

If you were a song, you’d be… it’s impossible to pick just one! That would depend on the company, the occasion, my frame of mind, why I wanted to hear the song... I have to admit, though, my musical tastes have changed over the years, nearly as much as U2.

If you were a forgotten corner, you’d be… a little village on the Costa Brava in winter or a little village in the north of the Peninsula in summer (as long as it didn’t coinci-de with the weekend of the town’s local festival).

If you could be somebody else, who would you like to be… someone very different, living somewhere far away from here, over 500 years ago maybe, but not any earlier than that. And if I had been a Martian… great… just as long as it’s not green!

Quick Questionnaire

Santiago Mínguez Pérez Professor / Programme Director ESADE Madrid

a selective memory, and so I can only respond to half of your question. Though I would like to mention one of the best experiences I’ve had the good fortune of tak-ing part in as Professor and Director of the Advanced Programme in Finance: a four-month programme for disabled students in collaboration with ONCE.

Can you give us an anecdote from your time at ESADE?That question in itself has probably produced great ex-pectations among your readers. But I don’t really think I can come up with anything that could live up to such high expectations…

Who from ESADE would you like to have dinner with, face to face?With the people I spend most time with at ESADE Ma-drid, and with the people in my department.

Who from ESADE would you go to a party with?With those colleagues who are no longer here. Definite-ly. In this company, you’re talking about lunches that go on for hours, and dinner parties with a big emphasis on the party...

Where, or in which job, would you like to be in three years’ time?I’m fine where I am, I’ll be fine where I am in the future and I’ll be fine taking on other responsibilities, if need be. What’s important is for each of us to have ongoing professional challenges, and for ESADE to make this possible and support us in doing so.

Personally speaking, which of ESADE’s values or signs of identity do you identify with most?With cooperation, of not succumbing to individualism. Getting to know people well, the work atmosphere...and not being limited to just the professional aspect of our jobs.

Who should we interview for the next edition?I know for a fact that Jordi Fabregat can’t wait for you to interview him.

How long have you been working at ESADE? I joined ESADE full-time in 1987. I had spent the pre-vious 2 years working as assistant professor and had also been involved in several subjects from time to time. I was given leave of absence in 2001, and came back in 2003. I’ve been at ESADE for over 20 years. And that’s a long time!

What do you do here?I’m currently in charge of the Research Office. It was set up as a unit 5 years ago, as a result of the perseverance and vision of JM Batista, and coincided with my return to ESADE. The unit’s grown leaps and bounds, as have the School’s research activities, which have risen consider-ably in recent years.

What did you think about the institution on your first day at ESADE? My first impression was that I was joining an institution that was extremely advanced in just about everything: re-sources, processes and organisation, which had first-class human resources.

And what about your colleagues?My colleagues in general and especially those in the De-

If you were a historical character, you’d be… Saint Francis of Assisi or Saint Ignatius of Loyola.

If you were a monument, you’d be… a cathedral.

If you were a animal, you’d be… a horse.

If you were a sport, you’d be… athletics.

If you were a book, you’d be… an historical novel.

If you were a song, you’d be… an opera aria.

If you were a forgotten corner, you’d be… a cabin in Equatorial Africa.

If you could be somebody else, who would you like to be… an inventor.

Quick Questionnaire Francesc Cribillers RieraResearch Office Manager Building 1

partment of Production and Methods (as it was called at the time) were superb: good professionals, friendly, and ‘collaborative’; and above all, good people. They made it very easy for me to fit in around here. My youth, hopes and drive did the rest.

What’s been your best and worst experience at ESADE?Human memory is a selective thing, which makes it eas-ier for us to better relive our memories. The few tough times I may have had at ESADE have been wiped from my hard drive. Only the vaguest of traces of them have been left behind, and not enough to piece together a story. Good times, I’ve had lots. For instance, words of thanks from former students from time to time, interest-ing and informal talks and discussions with colleagues at mealtimes, participating in courses and projects, the ongoing sense of belonging, making an important contri-bution, not to mention the ESADE project itself.

Who from ESADE would you like to have dinner with, face to face?With Caroline, Monica and Kim..., with all our neighbours from University Programmes, who are all quite stunning.

Where, or in which job, would you like to be in three years’ time?Anywhere or in any position where I could contribute most to ESADE.

Personally speaking, which of ESADE’s values or signs of identity do you identify with most?With the Christian ethos that has guided the School since its founding. All the values we claim to uphold, and

which are not always present in reality, derive from this ethos. Without that sign of identity, and what derives from it, the School would never have made it this far. For many years, ESADE has limited its activities to dissemi-nating knowledge. But in recent years the School has evolved towards creating knowledge. Now we talk more about creating and disseminating a way of ‘thinking’: of building up a ‘school’.

Who should we interview for the next edition? I’d choose 2 people: Mrs Ludivina de Dios and our Di-rector General, Carlos Losada.

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The Present MarketingMarketing – the science that aims to influence the behaviour and will of a target market – finds its greatest ally in something as metaphysical, ethereal and unstable as the present. In the words of Michel de Montaigne, ‘There is no such thing as the present: what we call the present is just the point where the future and the past meet.’ However, I believe quite the opposite: not only does the present exist, it is the only thing that is real.

The present is alive; it advances along with us. From it are born the past and the future, which live only in our minds: the past as a con-sequence of living in the present and filling our memories with ac-tions, decisions, thoughts, etc., from which we strive to gain knowl-edge and experience, and the future as a mental tool onto which we project the dreams and wishes we acquire by living in the present. Why, then, does everyone ignore the present, if it is, as I see it, the only reality, the only nerve centre of everything that happens to us? Because we feel more comfortable with the past and the future. They are elements that we can fix in our minds, adapt as convenient or according to our interests, and this gives us a sense of security. The past is always improvable, and the future is always improving.The present, however, is in continuous movement; it is capricious, rebellious and unpredictable, and therefore it causes feelings of insecurity and uncertainty. It is also somewhat Machiavellian – no matter now good it is, there is always room for improvement. We link it, irretrievably, to something fleeting, used, tainted or parasitic. It is easy to criticise, to devalue and even to ridicule.

Marketing, that strapping young lad, that expert seducer, knows the weakness of the present and casts his bait in an attempt to woo it. He knows that the present projects itself and decides the future, so he deploys all of his weapons – charm, fun, romance, appeal, confidence, etc. – to propose a new future together: ‘Buy what I tell you, and you’ll live better, enjoy better health, be more attractive, have more friends, more freedom, fewer wrinkles... Con-sume, and your future at my side will be better than the present you are currently living (regardless of how good it may be).’ Experts in communication say that consumption levels are in-versely proportional to happiness. That is, when we are unhappy, we become more permeable and vulnerable to the charms of marketing. Although there may be something to this, I believe that no one – no matter how happy – is immune to the uncertainty and unease of the present...

… and the present is desperately in love with marketing.

José Antonio Mengual

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Varietal (Syrah) A dark purple Australian wine, featuring aromas of ripe berries and liquorice with pepper spice notes. Bold on the palate, it swings perfectly between silky tannins (the elements that give wine a slightly astringent taste) and balanced acidity, with a persistent flavour of ripe fruit and an underlying earthiness. Aged slowly in American oak barrels, it achieves balance and smoothness with a touch of vanilla. This is a different sort of wine, one which surprises anyone who tries it. It is at once balanced and deep, making it accessible to all palates. This is a great wine to bring to a dinner party with family or friends. Enjoy it with cheeses, cold cuts, and roasted or barbequed red meat.

Sitios imprescindibles del coleccionista

Available: in the wine section of Caprabo supermarkets (the exclusive distributor in Spain) for just 5.75 euros (75 cl bottle). Remember, this is a wine imported from Australia.

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How did you get started as a collector? It was all my dad’s fault. He used to take me to the weekly market of coin and stamp collectors at Plaça Reial on Sun-days. I was little – just nine or ten – but I would rummage through the baskets of coins and bargain with the vendors. I would pick out the ones that looked the prettiest, without any other considera-tion. One day my dad bought a binder, a box of stamps from all over the world, and a catalogue. He gave these things to me and said, ‘Time to get to work.’ He thought – and he was right – that stamp collecting would promote certain implicit

values, such as order, tidiness, discipline in pursuing challenges, perseverance and visual memory, and that it would also be a source of knowledge. Years later, I have to say that he was absolutely right.

What do you collect? Slot cars and accessories predating the 1980s, original first-edition Scalextric catalogues, stamps, coins and notes, trading cards, comic books, and Formula One merchandise, especially things relat-ed to Fernando Alonso – slot car versions of cars he has driven, posters, T-shirts, etc.

Approximately how many of these items do you have?Slot cars, about 150. Stamps, thousands, from all over the world. Coins, quite a few. I couldn’t say how many. Trading cards, not many, but those I do have are highly coveted. The same goes for my comic books – few, but very important, in par-ticular Vértice comics from the 1970s.

What’s your most highly prized item? All of them. There’s a story behind each one, and they all bring back good memo-ries. I can tell you which one is the most highly valued: a Cropan trading card

Jordi Cassi has worked at ESADE for more than 18 years, providing technology-related academic assistance. Today, you can find him at ICT User Services, where he is responsible for procurement and administrative support tasks. On a personal level, however, there is another side to Jordi, unknown to most of us: he is an expert collector. If you ask him, though, he’ll tell you that his greatest passion is his family, especially his seven-year-old son Àlex, a world champion in Fit-Kid, an acrobatic dance discipline with music and choreography, similar to artistic gymnastics.

Parallel lives... Jordi Cassi

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Essential sites for collectors

• Plaça de Masadas: on the first Sunday of every month: collectors of slot cars, electric trains and antique toys (action figures, toy cars, model trains, etc., and all the accessories).

• Mercat de Sant Antoni: every Sunday: old collections of trading cards, books, computer games, video games and DVDs. The street corners around the market are popular places to trade cards in order to complete the collections that are currently sold at news-stands.

• Plaça Reial: every Sunday: under the arcades and in the plaza itself, you will find collectors of stamps, coins, calendars, cigar bands and bottle caps.

• Mercat dels Encants: recently, this market has become less ‘charming’, but you can still find antiques, some resulting from evictions and others brought by owners aiming to sell them.

• Other fairs: Paperantic, Saló del Hobby and Auto Retro.

• On the Internet: virtual auction houses such as eBay, Todocolec-ción and LiveAuctions, as well as exchange websites and online second-hand shops such as Mila-nuncios.com.

album called “Descubre a tus héroes fantásticos”. I completed it when I was a boy in 1975. Years later, I had the il-lustrator, Rafael López Espí, autograph it. He dedicated it to my son and me. It’s a double collection: 60 Marvel super-hero cards and 24 cards from the cartoon series Vicky the Viking, which was popu-lar back then. Today, I could sell each of those cards on eBay for between 15 and 40 euros. Why so much? Very simple: it was the first time that these superheroes had been drawn in Spain by López Espí, the godfather of all comics and cover art in that period.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to get your hands on something? I don’t usually do anything crazy. I think the most daring thing I’ve done is get up early to win an auction on the Internet. Wait, no. Now that I think of it, I did do something crazy once. There are Inter-net applications called ‘bid snipers’ that can place bids for you when you can’t be there to do it yourself. You set your bid-ding criteria and priorities, and indicate the total amount of money you want to spend. The crazy part? Well, based on my experience, I knew that the only way to get a really good batch of trading cards was to push up the price in order to re-duce the amount of money being offered by the bidders who use these applica-tions, which don’t give small collectors like me much of a chance. So that’s what I did: I bid on all the batches, thereby raising the price of all of them, and final-ly bought only the most affordable ones. It went perfectly: The people using bid snipers quickly ran out of money, as did the other bidders. I needed many of the cards from that collection and I had no preferences, so I was able to get the larg-est number of cards at the lowest pos-sible price. But to do this I risked a lot of money, which I would have lost if the winning bets hadn’t been withdrawn.

What does collecting mean to you? Recreation, relaxation, a way to discon-nect. An excuse to share my leisure time, or to attend a market or a fair. An oppor-tunity to meet people with similar inter-ests. The joy of restoring a car and feel-ing good about making it look brand new again after many years. But mostly it’s a family activity, because at home we all enjoy every minute of it. Forget the image of the collector locked up in his office, jealously hoarding his collection, accumulating treasures that he has no intention of sharing. In fact it’s quite the opposite. Collectors today are outgoing, willing to look anywhere for

what they want, talk to anyone and share their treasures. Some of the collections I have today were made possible thanks to the cooperation of fellow collectors and friends.

What is your favourite collection? In slot cars, I definitely prefer the Scalex-tric brand. I started out collecting slot cars in all of the models that Fernando Alonso had driven. But little by little I became interested in classic cars, from 1952 to 1980. I’m close to completing a collection of pre-Scalextric models. Back then, they weren’t even electric – they were made of tin and had a wind-up mechanism instead of a motor.

How are prices set for collectibles? Whether it’s a car, a coin or a stamp, the answer is clear: whatever someone is willing to pay for it. Collectibles don’t re-ally have prices, but you can look around on the Internet to see what people have paid recently for similar items. A real collector never sells his collections. Still, a friend of mine sold one of the larg-est collections in Spain of Exin Mexico Scalextric cars, and with the money he earned he bought a full-size Porsche. An-other person I know sold a slot car that was an unusual colour and was able to buy an Audi A4. Just to give you an idea of how much good pieces can be worth.

Last question: Do you know any other collectors at ESADE? I don’t know of any. I hope that my story inspires people to start collections and enjoy this hobby. You don’t have to in-vest a lot of money; you can collect any-thing. For all we know, many of the things that fall into our hands on a daily basis – sugar packets, hotel combs, soda cans and bottles, calendars, golf balls, thim-bles, toy soldiers, perfume bottles – will become scarce and therefore valuable in the future. You just have to be patient, collect things, and classify them accord-ing to some criteria that give shape to the collection. Enjoy sharing it and growing it day by day, always as entertainment, never as an obsession.

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Tenderloin of pork with cinnamon Ingredients for six servings A garlic bulb2 pork tenderloins – not too small Salt, pepper, ground cinnamon and olive oil

Cover the bottom of an earthenware casserole dish with olive oil and lightly fry the gar-lic cloves. They should be quite dark in colour but not burnt. Prepare the pork. Salt and pepper the tenderloins and then coat them in cinnamon, so that they’re well covered. Once the garlic has browned, place the pork in the casserole dish and let it cook, turn-ing once. Pork tenderloins cook through fairly quickly, and can be done on a low or high heat. Make a small slit in the middle of each cut of meat with a knife to make sure they cook evenly. The pinker the meat, the more rare it’ll be on the plate. This dish is often accompanied by mashed potatoes or a delicious, think apple sauce. Cook’s Tip. It’s a good idea to cook the pork just before serving. If you have to prepare this dish ahead of time, remove the meat from the heat once browned and set it aside. This will halt the cooking process so the tenderloins don’t dry out when reheated.

Ana María de Hériz... I joined ESADE in April 1988, so I’ve been here for 20 years now, which is a pretty major accomplishment in itself. Professor Baruel brought me to ESADE to help with field studies related with his research. Though when the first project ended, we got started on the second one, and then went on to do a few more after that. At the same time, I helped him administer the admission tests. I’ve also been involved with the layout of Working Papers and Research Notes and I’ve been cooperating on things to do with SUD over the last three years. I’ll be retiring soon, and a whole range of opportunities are opening up for me, which means I’ll be able to do all kinds of things. Mainly, I’ll do more work with Arrels, I’ll do some sports, get involved in some kind of literary activity, take up music, and relax a little too I suppose... as well as spending more time with my family and grandchildren. I hope the recipe turns out a success... Bon appétit!

Ana María de Hériz

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Congratulations from the _untitled team to the new mothers and fathers at ESADE and welcome to: Ramón and Martina (Ramón Aspa), Marcos (Blan-ca Hernández), Alessio (Michele Quintano), Bernat (Cristina Giménez) and Thomas (Melissa Handley).

Word SearchShow your knowledge and skill by finding 26 acronyms that we use in our day-to-day activities at ESADE. And if you find all the acronyms in the list, try and work out what they mean as well. Good luck!

Alessio Bernat

MarcosThomas

Ramón and Martina

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Plural thinking 15

Alumni Giving BackIsabel Rallo, Director

During the 2008-2009 academic year, the third edition of the Alumni Giving Back project will assist 10 NGOs located in Barcelona, Madrid and Lleida. This project is led by a team of people from ESADE and ESADE Alumni. In its first two editions, alumni worked on 13 social projects as pro bono consultants at a variety of NGOs and foundations.

Alumni Giving Back is currently working on initiatives focused on two ar-eas of activity. The first is ESADE Pro Bono Alumni Consultants, in which teams of six or eight ESADE alumni and faculty members bring experience to non-profit organisations and foundations. The second is Film Forum, a series of film screenings on social or protest-related topics that are meant to inspire reflection and debate.

According to Isabel Rallo, Director of Alumni Giving Back: ‘All alumni who participate in this project are experienced professionals who feel comfort-able applying their knowledge to the good of society. Some of them see this as an opportunity to learn about the non-profit world, while others are interested in meeting people who, like them, are motivated to work for a good cause and learn from new experiences.’

‘We want our alumni to influence their organisations, so that together we can create a more just and sustainable world’

Solidarity in numbers

152 alumni volunteers have worked or are working on consulting projects.

23 third-sector organisations have benefited or are benefiting from the services of Alumni Giving Back.

218 people have attended the Film Forum debates.

26 ESADE faculty members are collaborating actively with Alumni Giving Back.

More than 3.000 hours of consulting work have been provided free of charge.

Various social causes Alumni Giving Back supports a wide range of causes, but most involve medium-sized NGOs that work at the local level. ‘Organisations of this type need consulting more than others do,’ said Ms. Rallo. ‘When people think of NGOs, they tend to think of the worldwide struggle against poverty or protection against environmental disasters or wars. However, in our own cities, there are many people who receive help from NGOs that are little-known but nonetheless do very necessary social work.’

Alumni Giving Back has worked with schools for people with physical and/or mental disabilities and social workplaces that employ some of the same people, such as the Gaspar de Portolà Foundation and the Xamfrà Sant Miquel Foundation. The project has also worked on the social reha-bilitation of marginalised people and the education of troubled children with groups such as the InteRed Foundation, the Ared Foundation and the Casal d’Infants del Raval. Through its collaboration with the Natura Foun-dation, Alumni Giving Back also works on environmental issues.

According to Ms. Rallo: ‘We want alumni to see this other reality, to be con-cerned about this, and to influence their organisations so that together we can create a more just and sustainable world.’

Anna Díaz

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16 The portrait

“I hope everyone enjoys their work just as I have enjoyed mine all these years”Carmen Romero, Secretary, Undergraduate Degree in Management Programme. No introduction needed.

How long did you work at ESADE? 24 years in all; one through a temp agency and 23 directly.

What was your job? In the first period, I assisted the Office for Top Management Programmes, as staff. My job involved preparing the classrooms, the teaching notes and making sure that everything was in order, which included dealing with participants as well, as they were given a highly customised level of attention. Later on, Montse Zurano, who was at that time a secretary on the second floor took over the Top Management Programmes and I filled in for her while they tried to find a replacement to take on her old job. I wasn’t really sure I was doing the right thing, but I applied for the job anyway. As things turned out, I got the job and have been with ESADE ever since. From 1988, I went to join the Dean and later, when Lluís Pugès became Director General and until I retired, I was Secretary of the Undergraduate Degree in Management Programme.

Describe your experience and how you remember these years. It’s been an unforgettable experience. After ten years of being a housewife and doing the odd job here and there through temp agencies, every day at ESADE was like a practical. What a lot I learned!

What were you thinking as you made your way to ESADE on your first day? Nothing in particular, I just wondered what it would be like to work here. My colleagues at the temp agency said they’d been happy working at ESADE, where people were nice and where there was an excellent working environment.

Do you remember your colleagues? And your bosses? Yes, all of them. I don’t think I’ve fully accepted that I’m semi-retired.

In your opinion, what has changed most of all since that first day at ESADE? The location, before we were all in one building and,

if I cast my mind back, we were all squeeze into no more than a couple of floors; whereas everything’s so spread out these days. You could say that 25 years ago we were like a family-run business and that now we’re a big multinational.

Tell us your most amusing ESADE anecdote. The first day I came to ESADE, I had just finished for the day and was making my way through Building 1 when I was surprised to see that the place was full of official cars and TV and radio people, filming and interviewing. The next day I found out that Jordi Pujol had inaugurated Building 2. What I did have to ‘put up with’ for a while was the fact that I was called Carmen Romero, just like the wife of the then Spanish President, Felipe González. I’ll never forget that the first person to notice was Mr Güell. I imagine he saw my name on the list of names and internal telephone numbers and just wanted to ring and tell me that he had just had a tremendous surprise; nobody had told him that FG’s wife was working at ESADE.

What was your last day at ESADE like? The funny thing is that right now, and try as I might to remember how it went, nothing comes to mind. I think the mind is wise and lets us forget the sad things. As the decision to give up my job was a tough one for me, and that my only concern was to cause minimum inconvenience and leave everything in order – within my orderly disorder, that is – I suppose I didn’t feel it was time to say goodbye.

What is your best and worst memory of your years at ESADE? I don’t have one in particular, perhaps the affection students have shown for me on many occasions and also the confidence that some people have had in me at very specific times. Although people were always very nice at ESADE, I have to admit that the years I spent as Secretary of the Undergraduate Management Programme were special. The close contact I had with some of the students during their studies here, talking with about their hopes for the future and finding out about their lives, made me feel very close to them. As for the ‘least good’ moment, that I can think of, frankly I don’t have any.

Intimate and personal

And what are you doing now? Now I’m just as stressed out as when I worked at ESADE, but over other things. Enjoying spending time with my grandchildren, taking them to the nursery, changing nappies, singing songs, reading them fairy tales, taking them to the park, and so on. In other words, babysitting. Oh, and I’m also learning to spend the whole day with my husband, because it’s not the same thing seeing them at breakfast, lunch and dinner as it is to be stuck with them 24 hours a day. But the experience has surprised me, it’s turning out better than I thought it would.

What would you say to the people you left behind at ESADE?I miss them very much and I miss being in touch with my colleagues and boss/bosses. So, as time marches forwards and not backwards, I hope everyone enjoys their work as much as I’ve enjoyed mine over the years.

The colour you wouldn’t leave the house without… without a doubt brown, because it’s my favourite colour along with green.

The film or play you’d like to have starred in... I don’t know what to say, I’m the same with music, I like all kinds of genres. Perhaps Dirty dancing, even though I’ve seen it a million times, I still like it.

The song you’d like to have composed (and sung )... I like so many songs that I’d be unable to choose just one.

The book you’d like to have written... any travel book, or adventure or suspense novel. I haven’t really read for years (except the newspaper) but

I still remember how much I used to enjoy the novels of Pearl S. Buck, Jules Verne or Agatha Christie and the likes.

The famous person you’d like to have been... To want to be somebody else, you’ve got to really know them and as we’ve all got good and bad points, I’d rather be myself. But I’d pick out the qualities that I’ve liked most in the many anonymous people I’ve known in my life.

The city you’d like to get lost in... perhaps, out of nostalgia, Salamanca.

The place that most closely matches your character… a tropical beach.