From Learning to Action: IE Foundation and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Empower Future Leaders to Drive Sustainability
The forum Sustainability and Youth Engagement: From Learning to Action, encouraged new generations to take part in corporate decision-making, empowering them to actively drive the transition toward a more sustainable model.
Madrid, 30 January 2025 – IE Foundation and the Prince Albert II of Monaco came together to host the event Sustainability and Youth Engagement: From Learning to Action at the IE Tower. The forum aimed to encourage young generations to actively participate in corporate decision-making and contribute to the transition toward a more sustainable business model.
With sustainability at the core of the conversation, this event brought together international experts, renowned executives, and students committed to environmental protection to explore the ways in which businesses can integrate sustainability into their DNA. Through discussions and roundtables, attendees delved into how international commitments made at platforms like COP29 and WEF can be transformed into concrete actions by engaging with the next generation of leaders.
The event was officially inaugurated by Carol Portabella, President of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation in Spain, and Gonzalo Garland, Executive Vice-President of IE Foundation. Both leaders emphasized the importance of fostering intergenerational dialogue to drive sustainable transformation.
“We have redefined traditional dialogues because this forum is a mutual discovery between students, professionals, and innovators. The challenges we face are impossible to overcome without the commitment of future leaders,” said Portabella. “Your actions are more necessary than ever,” Garland urged, inviting the youth to take the lead in creating a more sustainable future.
Transforming Commitments into Actions
The roundtables were the focal point of the forum, with the discussion titled “From COP29/WEF to Business Reality”. Speakers including Geoffroy Gérard (Director General of IE Foundation), Chiara Cassina (IE University student and COY19 committee member), Tomás Lucero (President of the IE Charity Club), and Alberto Toril (Europe Manager, Breakthrough Energy) shared their insights on how international climate agreements can translate into meaningful action in the business world.
The panelists agreed on the need for young people to have a more prominent role in the conversation, as their future will be directly impacted by climate change. They also emphasized the importance of collaboration, education, and a shift in mindset to integrate sustainability into business practices.
Redefining the Workforce for a Sustainable Future
Another key discussion, Sustainability in the Professions of the Future, explored how digitalization and ESG criteria are reshaping the labor market. Panelists included experts such as Carlos Bello (Director of Innovation at ILUNION Hotels), João Botelho (Forbes 30 Under 30), Mar Fernández (Marine Researcher and CEO of MacroCarbon), María Eugenia Renaldi (LinkedIn Spain & Portugal), and Belén Santa Cruz (Moeve), moderated by Concepción Galdón, Vice-Dean and Director of the IE Center for Social Innovation and Sustainability.
The discussion emphasized that sustainability is no longer just a challenge but a competitive advantage in the workforce. The speakers highlighted the importance of purpose-driven innovation and the need for professionals to have technical knowledge, regulatory awareness, and an innovation-oriented mindset to thrive in the changing business environment.
Inspiring Leadership and Real-World Impact
A particularly inspiring moment of the event came from Pablo Fernández, serial entrepreneur and six-time Guinness World Record holder in swimming, who shared his journey from facing personal challenges to becoming a purpose-driven business leader.
During a conversation with Isabela del Alcázar, Chief Purpose and Sustainability Officer at IE University, Fernández explained how the experiences that scared him, such as swimming with sharks, helped him grow as a leader. His mantra of “giving back more to the world than what it has given us” resonated with the audience as he shared his mission of achieving a balance between purpose and profit in his ventures.
Recognizing the Future Sustainability Leaders
The event also served to acknowledge the current scholarship recipients of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Scholarships for Sustainability program, Elisa Cardamone and Carolina de Brigard, who are supported by both the FPA2 and the IE Foundation. The second edition of this partnership continues to offer academic support, cultural contributions, and opportunities for young people to engage in meaningful dialogue on how to translate their environmental and social values into professional practice.
Through these initiatives, both the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the IE Foundation aim to inspire future generations to not only dream of a sustainable future but to actively lead the way forward.