The arrival of artificial intelligence has burst into all areas of society and will affect both the work environment and the business model of the future. This topic was addressed at the 27th Conference for Entrepreneurs and Managers, organised by the Centre Universitari Ariany, in Palma de Mallorca. Vice-rector of the University Community Esther Jiménez opened the event with a speech on “Innovation, Values and Diversity.”

In her presentation, the UIC Barcelona vice-rector analysed and laid out the current context of uncertainty due to the disruption of artificial intelligence and the geopolitical and strategic changes posed by globalisation. Drawing on a parallel with the Blue Ocean strategy, created in 2005 by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne, she showed the main challenges companies face due to cultural and generational diversity and the solutions to make companies more productive, humane and sustainable.

Jiménez proposed key points that will allow the business model to face the challenges of the environment we live in, such as the importance of “focusing decision-making by placing people at the centre, integrating efficiency and effectiveness with purpose and commitment.” She put emphasis on selection, promotion, remuneration or evaluation processes so that equal opportunities are respected, and stereotypes are avoided. In this line, Esther Jiménez committed to “promoting conciliation and flexibility in companies and understanding cultural and generational diversity as a source of wealth and opportunities.”

The conference took place at the Aixa-Llaut School in Mallorca. In addition to Esther Jiménez’s presentation, Dr Inés Alegre, director of Analytics at Shalion and senior lecturer in the Managerial Decision Sciences Department at IESE Business School, also participated with a talk titled “Business and Ethical Challenges in the Application of Artificial Intelligence.” Finally, IESE Economics Professor Javier Díaz Giménez closed the conference with a last block: “Economic Perspectives and Challenges.”