Faculty Spotlight: Guillermo de Haro
Meet the Vice Dean of Graduate Programs at IE School of Science and Technology.
Dr. Guillermo de Haro is a modern-day renaissance man. Since taking on the position last year as Vice Dean for Graduate Programs at IE School of Science and Technology, he has already helped to create the Global Mentor Network, led the IE Industry Faculty Group and crafted a Master in Software Engineering. Teaching in the Business School as well as the Sci-Tech School, de Haro regularly receives Teaching Excellence Awards for his classes. The vice dean, who holds two doctorate degrees, in Applied Economics and Engineering, as well as an MBA, is a prolific author—with numerous articles published in academic journals, books on a range of issues from economics to philosophy and a raft of award-winning case studies.
Prior to attaining his third master degree—in Cinema, TV and New Interactive Media—he worked as the COO of Workcenter and as the Strategic Business Development Manager at Technicolor Entertainment Services.
Get to know the IE School of Science and Technology’s Vice Dean for Graduate Programs.
What brought you to IE? Where were you before? And what keeps you here?
I studied telecommunications engineering and before finishing I had already set up a couple of projects and worked for a consulting company. I discovered that I needed tools to be able to make business plans and strategic plans. Everyone I knew and trusted recommended IE, so in 2002 I started my MBA, in parallel with my first PhD.
Right now this is the right place to be. Our Dean, Ikhlaq Sidhu, has an amazing vision to turn IE into a reference in Science and Technology. And now I am working with the best team I have ever been involved with. We rock!
What trends are you most excited about in science and technology and why?
I am particularly excited about trends that integrate several areas, such as the advancement of data science in business strategies and the impact of AI on education. Nevertheless, I also love reading about energy alternatives or aerospace research. Drones and their usage in many different areas are also an intriguing field that I think is going to explode in the following years. Bioengineering is a new and increasing interest after reading "La Genética del Tiempo", the book our CEO, Diego de Alcazar Benjumea, wrote. Science, technology and engineering in general have been my passion since I was a child, when I read My First Book about Computers by Luca Novelli. For some years I subscribed to Scientific American.
Have you ever had an a-ha moment while teaching that furthered your research? What was it?
My "a-ha" moment in teaching happened as a student. During my MBA I discovered Case Studies. Being an engineer, I love them and how they could help take learning to the next level. Consequently, I wanted to learn more. Being a student at IE, I co-authored 3 case studies, and 2 of them were published and used by faculty. One in Economics ("Mercosur") and another one in E-commerce ("My Alert"). Over time, IE helped me learn more about them, facilitating my attendance to Harvard courses on teaching with cases and case development. Some of my case studies have been published in academic journals and others have won international awards, namely "Mafia Business School". And this even took me to write my first book, using the movie "The Godfather" as a case study to publish "Corleone Business School". I LOVE them!
After all these years of extensive experience in academia, including my roles as entrepreneur and top executive in multinational companies, or as an academic director involved in the development of numerous educational programs, I have experienced several insightful moments that have informed my research and teaching approach. But that was the foundational one, I guess.
What book do you wish your students would read before taking your class and why?
I have authored and coordinated several manuals and books, including Marketing Online y Comercio Electrónico, The Economic Spectator, The Small Book of Stoicism or “Millenials: The Entrepreneurial Generation” But I recommend my students read different types of books. Some suggestions are: Santiago Iñiguez’s Philosophy Inc.: Applying Wisdom to Everyday Management, Giorgio Nordone, Good Strategy, Bad Strategy by Richard Rumelt for Strategy, How to Lie with Statistics" by Darrell Huff for critical thinking and data visualization, or The Business Case for AI by Kavita Ganesan.
Please name one of your articles or studies you feel addresses the pressing issues for 2024?
Our MIT Sloan Review article "To Improve Cybersecurity, Think Like a Hacker." The article emphasizes the importance of understanding the mindset and tactics of hackers to create a cybersecurity culture. In 2024, challenges in cybersecurity are increasingly complex due to advancements in technologies like AI, the proliferation of connected devices, and more sophisticated cyber threats. By adopting a hacker's perspective, organizations can proactively identify vulnerabilities, enhance their security protocols, and better prepare for potential cyber attacks. This approach is crucial in an era where cyber threats are continually evolving and pose significant risks to both individual privacy and organizational security.
Whose research of your IE colleagues do you find interesting? Why?
I am completely amazed by what Luz Rello is doing. She has dyslexia, but she became a scientist, developed patents and as an entrepreneur launched an organization to help identify children with dyslexia and help them overcome it. MIT35 Social Entrepreneur, Vodafone Young Researcher European Award, Princess of Girona...all those awards are incredible, but when you meet her, it is more incredible to see how focused she is on making a better work. Ah, yes, I forgot to mention-- her publications are based on Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, and she began developing an app to help children speak well. She is my academic hero.
And of course, our dean has more than 75 patents, some of them still alive, and including patents that allow all of us to watch video streaming over the Internet. That is another level!
Tell us one personal thing about yourself that none of your students knows. A hobby, sport or talent? Strange fact? Unusual interest?
Apart from being an engineer and an economist, I became a journalist 10 years ago. I am Editor for Economics and Business at Jot Down cultural magazine. But, not many people know that I am involved as a partner in that initiative. Right now we have more than 6 million unique visitors, several hundred thousands of followers in our social media networks like Twitter or Meta, brands like Jot Down Sports or Jot Down Comics, and two printed magazines, Jot Down and Jot Down Kids. Spreading culture, literature or sports, is something that I enjoy personally a lot. Now my 11 years old son is also involved, interviewing teenage sports champions for the Jot Down Kids Magazine.
Finally, I am a supporter of UNHCR/ACNUR, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.