On July 6th, Porto Business School welcomed over 150 alumni for the Alumni Day 2024, a day of celebration, learning, and knowledge sharing. This special event brought together former students, business leaders, and experts, strengthening our community and reaffirming our commitment to excellence, innovation, and relevance.
After the welcome speech by José Esteves, Dean of Porto Business School, to the Porto Business School community on this day of celebration, knowledge sharing, and fellowship, it was time to introduce the Impact Centres of the Innovation X Hub to the community, a project that reflects the school's commitment to innovation and social transformation.
Innovation and Social Transformation
André Rocha, Cândida Santos, Filipe Gonçalves, Rita Marques and Rodrigo de Alvarenga joined Diogo Vieira da Silva to present the work developed in their respective fields.
This was also the moment to challenge the community to bring the innovation challenges and opportunities of their organizations to the IXH's table.
The Global Order and the Roles of China and Europe
The next highlight of the day was delivered by Shirley Ze Yu, Director of the China-Africa Initiative at LSE, Senior Practitioner Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, and one of the most significant consultants to Fortune Global 100 companies. The special guest shared an in-depth analysis of the transformation of the global order and the roles of China and Europe in this context of change.
During her presentation, Shirley Ze Yu addressed essential topics such as trade tensions, technological disruptions, geopolitical shifts, and climate changes, providing the audience with a comprehensive and insightful view of the current global challenges and opportunities.
Following this, Jorge Ferreira, CEO of Care to Beauty and alumnus of the Executive MBA, joined Shirley Ze Yu to share his on-the-ground experience as an entrepreneur and founder of a successful digital business operating in various markets, and the real impact of the reorganization of the world order. The debate was moderated by Sandra Sousa, journalist at RTP.
Tribute to Excellence
The Porto Business School Alumni Awards ceremony was a significant moment of the morning. Carlos Mota dos Santos, CEO of Mota-Engil, was honored with the Porto Business School Career Award 2024. André Ribeiro, CEO of Endiprev, was honored with the Porto Business School Alumni Revelation 2024.
To conclude this morning of sharing experiences and knowledge, Margarida Pedrosa, a faculty member at Porto Business School for over 30 years, was honored with the Community Outstanding Impact Award 2024. Margarida Pedrosa began her journey at the school as a student. In her role as a faculty member, Margarida Pedrosa proposed the Personal Development course for the Executive MBA, a pioneering move, and created the "WishesBook." She was also nominated as one of the three finalists for the MBA Innovation Award 2013, promoted by the MBA Association in London, which recognizes new practices and experiential learning. She is also the founder of the Women in Business club at Porto Business School.
The Alumni Day 2024 culminated with lunch on the school's deck and moments of socializing and reunions.
