Good afternoon, Minister
general secretary, president and director.
Teachers, parents and students
And to all of us who are part of the school.
Thank you for including me in this project.
Thanks for the invitation,
it is an honor to participate in one of the most relevant acts for an academic institution,
formed by each and every one of those mentioned before.
It is a relevant act because an academic year is closing.
But, as Adolfo said,
it is important because we are recognizing your merits.
Being part of it and becoming the godmother of this promotion
fills me with pride and an enormous responsibility.
I don't want to give a masterclass,
but to share what I humbly believe
is the most important lesson I have learned
throughout my long professional career,
despite my great youth.
You may think…
and the director has already stolen this first idea.
This usually happens when there is a first speech…
Although you may think this is the end, this is only the beginning.
And do not be scared,
especially parents.
Your contribution is over.
Now it is the turn
of those who already know what is working, but who returned to the EOI to continue with their education.
This does not mean that we should not celebrate what we have achieved.
Life is a continuous effort and today I want to help you to turn it into a passion.
Congratulations for your achievements!
And congratulations for what you are going to achieve from now on.
I closed the file. How could it be otherwise?
Unlike other times, and I have thought a lot about this,
vital trajectories are no longer regulated.
Oh, god!
You have followed a path so far.
It was already drawn and it is the one that you should follow, congratulations.
But the world has radically transformed in the last 30 years.
I know it because I started working 30 years ago.
And indeed now you are going to carry out great transformations
in an increasingly accelerated rhythm.
What happen then?
There is no longer a single model that everyone considers valid
and that serves as a reference.
Today the West is no longer in charge.
Moreover, there is no West, there are several wests,
depending on which part of the ocean we are.
There are many Americas, there are many Asias.
I mean: there is not a world, there are many worlds in one.
But also that physical world is hybridized with the digital,
being built by an exponential combination of different technologies on this new network.
That new virtual world connects us to each other throughout the planet.
Thanks to satellites, among other things.
Accordingly,
if there is no valid reference, everything is questionable.
If everything is questionable, we no longer have clear references.
We have a starting point.
Today is not the end, it is just the beginning.
To set out on this journey,
we need to pack.
So, I am going to summarize what has worked for me until today.
Tomorrow, we never know.
Business Management, Environment, Sustainability, Digital Leadership...
They are technical knowledges of enormous value and relevance in the current context.
In this new world under construction,
isolated know-how is no longer a solution to our problems,
as it was in the past when they were clearly defined.
Now, everything is yet to be written.
You are...
And hopefully all of us.
Make no mistake, do not retire. That's an old-fashioned thing. Don't you think, Minister?
We will work in professions that do not exist today.
You will do it for sure.
Meanwhile, we'll aspire to keep contributing.
This sets a superlative challenge.
In this world of constant and accelerated change,
besides having technical knowledge,
the most important thing is to cultivate and practice a genuine curiosity for what happens around us
To observe, to listen, to understand.
With a restless spirit before what is happening.
It requires skills and abilities that we don't usually learn in our schools.
As Adolfo Cazorla has pointed out, it requires
an open mind and, of course, the desire to learn.
The key element is that we have to collaborate.
In this complex world there is a lot of information,
there is a lot of knowledge and we are not able to get it all.
But there is good news:
connectivity and the ability to interact with others allows us to access the knowledge that others have.
It's time to collaborate and build teams.
It requires another type of skills
that undoubtedly are related to empathy,
but above all, to respect.
Respect in order to value the difference,
to relate to others and to listen genuinely to what they have to say.
We will build a network of knowledge and people.
Getting rid of prejudices that restrict our talent development.
Sometimes, we are our worst enemies,
we have to believe in ourselves.
And we have to believe in what others can offer.
The others are always the richest source of knowledge and wisdom.
By adding talents, adding visions,
we increase our capacity to see opportunities first,
to take advantage of them and to be able to adapt to changes collectively.
In that sense, EOI's values are a good reference to face the challenges. Excellent choice!
You already have the technical training.
But, although you want to change the world...
If you've been in a company, you may know that great and 'technical' strategic plans are useless.
Do not forget that the great transformations can only be made with people.
And they are not made by imposition, but with conviction and passion.
We integrate, we include.
We manage to take the best of everyone.
Currently, we can hear some alternative reactions to the social changes.
New versions, old formulas.
Make no mistake about it.
They are shortcuts.
These are the individual and protectionist options
that prioritize local points of view
and populist approaches that minimize the individual roles.
I invite you to take a humanistic answer:
The person must return to the center of action.
Be protagonists of a New Renaissance that I think it is coming.
I recently attended the presentation of a book about Leonardo Da Vinci.
In his paintings and inventions, radiate an inexhaustible curiosity for technique (the natural sciences)
at the same time as for the human experiences. He considered himself a "disciple of experience".
This attitude of seeking excellence,
with principles, ambition and courage to make a difference.
It is what we need today and was only possible in an atmosphere of respect for diversity.
There has only been one Leonardo da Vinci
but more good news:
together as a team,
the more diverse the better,
We can innovate and create as much as him.
There will be many teams that will be able to offer different answers.
As Da Vinci did, let's combine all tools.
Today we have more than before.
And let's combine people and their singularity.
Now we can reach them with the click of a mouse.
In this global network,
we can connect science and technique, but also art, philosophy…
In short, what makes us more human.
Life is a path.
Throughout history,
within your family and closest friends,
those who have been blinded by "the" goal.
"I just want this".
finally find out that they have not enjoyed the trip.
They couldn't see what was happening.
Life was going by.
That's why I invite you to spend your time every day on important things:
Time to dream,
time to ambition new goals
and time to revise them and adapt them to reality.
Building new ambitions,
taking advantage, but never stop dreaming.
Time to think,
asking questions,
especially uncomfortable questions.
Take time to learn.
There is no better learning than listening to the experiences of others and telling yours to others.
You learn by teaching.
Thanks for choosing me as ad honorem professor.
Time to love and take care of the ones who are with us.
Let's not think about the immediate usefulness.
Add me on LinkedIn, but do not ask me for a job tomorrow.
I will be delighted if I can do it in the future.
It is about giving without expecting anything in return:
I can assure you that it will return thousandfold
And be open to receive.
In my personal experience,
who has helped me the most was who I least expected.
And of course,
and the minister will agree,
we must find time to commit and get involved in the construction of a better society.
Go beyond.
We are going to face important dilemmas in a world that has never been that complex:
the role of people and machines,
the future of work, aging population, migrations...
How are we going to recover the Earth and live more in harmony with nature and within civilizations?
How will we explore (and won't exploit) the space wisely?
The road is not easy.
But never before we have been able to write the future as today.
It is exceting
I encourage you to fill your backpack with lightweight materials that make up the dreams,
I encourage you to write your best story. Your life.
Life ...
... I talked about youth and I am already 50 ...
Life only makes sense if you live it with authenticity.
Being unique.
Be true to yourself.
That's the most important thing.
And walk with the best company.
Being yourself, authentic and good, you'll be attractive too.
Enjoy what you do.
Knowledge, attitude, collaboration with respect and generosity.
Authenticity and commitment.
In short,
choose what makes you more human,
machines will do everything else.
Thank you and congratulations.
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