The Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences at UIC Barcelona celebrated the graduation ceremony with the head of the International Centre for Work and Family (ICWF) of IESE Business School, Nuria Chinchilla, as the year’s sponsor. In her speech, the lecturer considered that “leadership is no longer being at the forefront and for others to follow, but developing trusting relationships with the people around us”, adding that: “Trust is an externality for economists that is not bought or sold, but if it is lacking, there is no market, because there are no transactions”.

For the economy expert, “in a more and more digitalised world, so-called soft skills will be even more necessary: empathy, emotional intelligence, active listening, but also critical thinking and networking, starting with getting to know the other person and seeing how you can help them”.

The head of the IESE International Centre for Work and Family (ICWF) has also valued that students are “prepared to build a better world, to regenerate the ecosystem and build a more humane and sustainable economy, starting with day-to-day micro-decisions”. Nevertheless, she asked students to enjoy the professional career that awaits them, instead of thinking about it as “running against someone”.

After Chinchilla’s speech, the graduation diplomas were handed out, followed by speeches from the year delegates. The ceremony was closed by the vice-rector of Research, Toni Mora, ending with the university anthem, Gaudeamus Igitur.