November at ESEI: A Month of Learning, Insights, and Professional Growth
November was a month full of valuable experiences at ESEI, giving students opportunities to develop skills, gain knowledge and connect with professionals.
The month began with Tom Van der Heyden, who spoke to our Master’s in International Relations and International Business students about the historical, economic and political factors that shaped modern-day China. Students analysed the “Made in China 2025” plan, its achievements and explored potential next steps for the country on the global stage.
Our Master’s in Sports Management students had several enriching experiences. They visited RTVE, gaining a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to broadcast live sports events. They also welcomed Oscar Gallego, an expert with over 20 years of experience organising international sporting events in Spain, Morocco and Saudi Arabia. Oscar shared his expertise on communication in sports events, covering areas from marketing and operations to sponsorship and general management.
Master’s in Sports Management students also visited the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona with Oscar Pérez-Córdoba Dávila from INsports Eurolatam Hub. The session explored the impact of the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, examining how the event transformed the city, society and the lives of millions of citizens. Students analysed Barcelona’s development before 1992 and the lasting legacy of the Games that continues to influence the city today.
Next, Tobias Rodrigues delivered an insightful session on conflict resolution and soft skills. With more than ten years of experience in organisational coaching, mediation and leadership, as well as an academic background in Conflict Resolution, Philology, Philosophy, Theology and Psychology, Tobias provided students with practical tools to give constructive feedback, resolve conflicts and improve teamwork. His sessions equipped students with skills applicable to modern professional environments.
We also welcomed Judith Solanas Sánchez, PhD, for an insightful session on DEI and inclusive leadership, where she drew on her international experience in sport, research and organisational development to explore how diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging shape stronger, more innovative workplaces. She shared practical tools for becoming an inclusive leader and highlighted why these values matter for modern organisations.
The final guest speaker of the month was Marc Menchén, CEO and co-founder of 2Playbook, who delivered a masterclass to our students. Marc shared his experience creating 2Playbook, Spain’s most comprehensive sports business database, and explained how to transform raw data into meaningful insights. The session covered selecting key performance indicators, structuring dashboards, and hands-on workshops on building dashboards from scratch using data visualisation tools. Students gained practical knowledge of applying data, metrics and market intelligence to real-world sports business decisions.
November was also a time for international collaboration. We welcomed students from ECEMA France for a week of workshops, which concluded with a field visit to Estrella Damm. At the same time, students from Tec de Monterrey spent a week at 42 Barcelona, learning coding programmes such as Python and Linux through project-based learning.
Next was the ESEI Career Fair, which gave students the chance to connect with leading companies in Barcelona, including SAP from the Barcelona Digital Hub, Placement International, Job in Planet, Amaris, Barcelona Expat Life, RD Global Sports Football Agency, ESL Languages and SLS. The event offered valuable networking opportunities and insights into different industries, helping students expand their professional connections and explore future career paths.
At the end of November, our students wrapped up their first module of classes and entered finals week. In the Digital Marketing course, students took part in an immersive project-based learning experience led by Professor Elisenda Williams. Working with two Barcelona-based companies, Fitia Swimswear with founder Shanice Rakotonindraina and Barcelona Entrepreneurs with Julia Im, students applied their marketing knowledge to real-world business challenges. From market analysis to digital strategy development, this hands-on project allowed them to transform classroom concepts into meaningful industry solutions.
November was a month that demonstrated ESEI’s commitment to combining academic excellence with practical experiences, preparing students to succeed in global business and management environments!
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