Faculty Spotlight: Juan Jose Casado

Juanjo Casado is a reference for the community of data & analytics professionals in Spain. At IE, students know him as a professor and the academic director of the Master in Business Analytics and Big Data, a role he undertook for a decade leading the program to be ranked 7th in the world for the QS Master’s Ranking 2023. Beyond his IE role, Casado’s professional life stands out. Currently he is the Chief Digital & Chief Data Officer at Repsol, where he leads the digitization program that has already become an international corporate transformation success story, attracting attention for the program’s ability to scale AI and generate value for the company. In 2021, he received the Best Chief Data Officer Award by the Club CDO Spain & Latam a professional association made up by the CDOs of the main companies in these countries.

Casado is very committed to the development of a new  Data & AI driven economy in Europe He was one of the founders of INDESIA, a non-profit consortium that promotes the economic growth for Spain through the acceleration of the use of data and Artificial Intelligence by Industrial companies and SMEs. He is also focused on the development of ethical and responsible AI solutions, a topic on which he leads several working groups. This year, he was also recognized by the AI-Network / Artificial Intelligence Association with the Inspire Award 2022 in honor of his outreach on artificial intelligence and its impact on society.

What brought you to IE? Where were you before? And what keeps you here?

In 2000 I did my MBA at IE, and as an alumni my dream was always to someday become a profesor at IE.  In 2013 I was the Associate Partner leading the Analytics Service line at IBM and part of my job was talking to the media about how this technology was going to transform it everything. One day Manuel Fernandez Villalta & Lee Newman heard me on the radio and they realized I was alumni so they contacted me and asked me if I could create a master program on Big Data for a new school IE was launching, which is now the Science & Technology School.

I jumped into the project immediately and accepted the role of Academic Director, we spent one year preparing the program until we made it official with ANECA and we launched it. We had no idea what expect, It was really unusual and disruptive at that moment to teach data science or coding in a school like IE, there was no other programs globally to compare with… but we was lucky and It was a huge success from the very first intake. The program grew so much from the beginning that in the third year Luis Reina joined me to help manage part of the intakes, students and professors, (best decision ever as he is a great professor, amazing professional and better person and friend). Together we led the program for many years until being ranked 7th in the world for the QS Master’s Ranking 2023.

I have spent a decade as Academic Director. I have taught more than 1.000 students. I have received the IE academic excellence award more times than I would ever expect. I can say this program and IE helped me to make many of my dreams true --so I will keep collaborating in one or another way as far as the program needs it and IE asks me.

Meet one of IE School of Science and Technology’s thought leaders. 

Where do you work outside of IE and what is most exciting to you about this role in your professional career? 

Currently I am the Chief Digital & Chief Data Officer at Repsol. Since many years ago, I am really committed to applying Big Data & Artificial Intelligence to improve our society. This roIe has given me the opportunity to use technologies to preserve the health of the planet and fight against climate change by leading the transition to a net-zero emissions new energy system. Since 2018, Repsol has been working on an ambitious Digital Transformation program that will allow us to transform the company for the future. I am fortunate to lead an amazing team of more than 75 digital professionals that deploy digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital twins, IoT, drones, blockchain, robotization, 5G, virtual reality or the use of UX design to evolve our industrial facilities and improve operations, reduce emissions and maximize energy efficiency.

Have you ever had an a-ha moment while teaching that furthered your research? What was it?

Yes, a year ago I was preparing a new class on generative AI, and having to test and follow the new advances that were being produced. I realized that the degree of progress was more than exponential and that we were about to see the explosion of something big. In November that year ChatGPT was published and the world went crazy.

In a few months, large language models have quickly evolved to have multiple capabilities: language, vision, navigation, programming, mathematical problem solving... all in a single model ready to solve endless tasks that are yet to be discovered. I realized that we had shortened the times in which we could achieve true AGI (artificial general intelligence) and that this could radically change the reality of business, employees and our society, and the moment is now. Since then I have been working to help my company prepare for and lead this great disruption.

What book do you wish your students would read before taking your class and why?

I always tell my students that in our field there are great books, but unfortunately they become outdated too quickly. In my case, I prefer that they get used to looking for their own sources of information on the internet that include blogs, podcasts, magazines. It is important that they start to identify who the opinion leaders are and which sources are reliable and which are not. The first years of the program forced them to create their own magazine on the internet that would feed automatically from their rss so they could share it with me and so I could evaluate what news they were reading. I always tell them that they have to get into the habit of reading at least 1 hour every night on topics of interest related to our profession. It is the only way that technological progress does not pass you over and that you are the one who surfs the wave. You have to detect trends before anyone else. In my case, I've been doing it every night for more than 20 years. Now, also when I go to work by car, I listen to several podcasts. I recommend the one by Lex Fridman it's my favorite!!!

Please name one of your articles or studies you feel addresses the most important issues for 2023?

This year I have developed the IndesIA Guide for the use of data and Artificial Intelligence in Spanish industrial companies. Through it, we want to guide the Spanish industrial fabric, with a practical approach, in the process of implementing data use technologies and AI, sharing methodologies and success stories of the authoring companies: Repsol, Gestamp, Navantia, Telefónica, Microsoft, Airbus, Técnicas Reunidas and Ferrovial. Unfortunately, I think it´s available only in Spanish still.

Whose research of your IE colleagues do you find interesting? Why?

I am passionate about anything related to the future of education and Artificial Intelligence. Obviously, there is a lot of research regarding this topic at IE. I recommend these very interesting articles regarding this topic published recently in IE in Insights:

• Professors in the Age of AI by Rafif Srour about how can the power of AI be harnessed to the advantage of students
• Welcoming AI Into the Classroom by Adriana Hoyos on How can students and teachers be trained to use AI in the most effective way 

Self-portrait based on generative AI and developed with LeonardoAI

 Tell us one personal thing about yourself that none of your students know. A hobby, sport or talent? Strange fact? Unusual interest?

My main hobby right now is Digital art and generative AI image creation. I spend hours playing with LeonardoAI, Stable Diffusion and MidJourney generating all type of image for presentations, social media posts or just for fun!! Another thing that few people know is that I am a great fan of boxing, it is my great passion. I started practicing it more than 20 years ago together with a colleague from the IE MBA and at 46 I still do sparring every Sunday with my trainer and some colleagues who still dare to climb into the ring at our age. And now I am also delighted because my son Jota and my daughter Noa get up early on weekends to train with me in the garden.