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Generating impact with purpose: 20 years of Esade Alumni Social

Esade Alumni Social celebrates two decades during which it has become one of Europe’s pioneering initiatives in mobilizing talent to serve the third sector
Alumni Social

With the slogan “20 Years of Meaningful Impact,” the EsadeForum auditorium in Barcelona hosted an event that combined  memory, community, and a future vision and brought together alumni, social organizations, and professionals committed to social transformation.

Un anniversary to celebrate… and activate

Ever since it was created, Esade Alumni Social has channeled Esade alumni’s knowledge and experience to enhance the management and impact of nonprofit organizations, building a unique collaboration model linking enterprise, academia, and the social sector. As the Esade Alumni director, Patricia Valentí (MBA 02/Promociona 17), highlighted during her speech, “We should be proud to have made it here: 20 years promoting participation and seeing how our alumni’s knowledge, experience, and talent can become an extraordinary force of social transformation.”

Ana Xicoy, chair of the Fundación Esade board, placed this initiative at the heart of the institutional project: “The humanistic legacy and generating an impact in society are two of the cruxes of Esade’s new strategic plan.”

Communities committed to a digital world

Alumni Social

One of the key moments in the event was the dialogue with Sister Lucía Caram and Emilio Doménech, “Nanísimo,” led by Naila Q. Hawach (BBA 19&LIS 26) from Esade Alumni Social. They reflected on how to build committed communities in a context dominated by digital tools.

Sister Lucía focused on real engagement as a driver of change. “When people are engaged is when community is created… networks are the hook. If there is no shift to commitment, no community is created.” And she added a key idea about collective purpose: “The individual has to feel part of a project.”

Emilio Doménech, in turn, warned about the limits of the digital environment: “It is difficult to create community if you depend on algorithmic laws… many digital communities end up being lost.” And he stressed the importance of face-to-face encounters: “Over time, you have to take the leap to the physical. That’s why it’s important to hold events where people can interact in person.”

New projects to keep growing

The session had a clear message: celebrating our track record, but especially looking ahead.

The Club for Social Change was presented as an addition to this event. This initiative is being promoted together with Esade’s Institute for Social Innovation and other organizations and aims to enhance the connection between alumni and social change agents to continue contributing and transformation. You can join the Club here.

The event also included recognition of the founders of the initiative, Josep Santacreu (DSIS 86/ PMD 89) and Alfred Vernis, professor in Esade’s Department of General Management and Strategy, who recalled the start and the context of the third sector. “The third sector does incredible things almost with no means and in the face of huge challenges,” Santacreu said. Vernis, in turn, appealed to collective action to grapple with today’s challenges: “We have a very complicated world… we have to keep going; we have to do things and do them with optimism.” The drive to carry on was clear, as the director of Esade Alumni Social, Isabel Rallo, stated: “We want to bring service and continuity to all the alumni who fell in love with the cause of helping others.”

Alumni Social

Esade Madrid Campus Joins the Celebration of Esade Alumni Social’s 20th Anniversary

The Esade Madrid Campus also hosted the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Esade Alumni Social on June 30, bringing together volunteers, partner organizations, and members of the Esade community to recognize the impact generated by initiatives such as Consultores Solidarios (Volunteer Consultants), a project that has helped strengthen more than one hundred social organizations in Madrid through professional advisory services and the voluntary commitment of alumni.

The event also provided an opportunity to reflect on the role of humanistic leadership in driving social transformation. In her keynote speech, “Leading from Humanity: Talent in the Service of Others,” Cristina Giménez (Consejeros 24), Director of Identity and Mission at Esade, emphasized that professional excellence only reaches its full meaning when it is directed toward the common good. She advocated for a leadership model grounded in competence, awareness, compassion, and commitment. During the closing session, speakers highlighted that the true legacy of these twenty years cannot be measured solely by the projects completed, but also by the relationships built, the trust generated, and the ability to foster a community of professionals convinced that talent achieves its greatest value when placed at the service of others.

Alumni Social Madrid

Esade Alumni Social’s track record reflects a tangible, sustained impact: more than 500 social organizations supported, 65% of which have improved their management; a return of 2.97 euros for each euro invested, according to the SROI methodology; and an Integrated Social Value of 2.95 million euros per year. Twenty years later, Esade Alumni Social continues to evolve with a clear goal in mind: to mobilize more talent, reinforce committed communities, and combine digital potential with real commitment. After all, as became clear at the event, true impact lies not only in ideas but also in people who decide to get involved and move to action.

 

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