4YFN 2021: Empowering the New Era of Connectivity
Supporting technology to transform the future
In a complicated year for entrepreneurs and startups, Esade is unhesitatingly reinforcing its support for innovation and the global technological ecosystem through its collaboration with the 4YFN event: an exhibition at the core of the mobile connectivity sector where innovators, founders, creators and leaders come together to shape the future. By being a part of 4YFN, Esade is reaffirming its commitment to the sector and to the reactivation and recovery of Barcelona's economic activity and international standing.
Impact Summit - Esade Speakers
Skills to Thrive in the Age of Infinite Leverage
4YFN 2021 | Impact Summit by Ivan Bofarull
Redefining Connectivity
4YFN 2021 | Impact Summit by Esteve Almirall
Esade at 4YFN: Empowering the New Era of Connectivity
This year, the 4YFN exhibition, located in the heart of the MWC, will bring together more than 400 international startups and 150 speakers, and will see the birth of 200 new technology startups. It will have 5 programs around 5 key axes: Connectivity, Digital Health, Fintech, Impact and Investors. All this will take place over 4 days, from June 28th to July 1st, 2021, under the protocol of Covid-19 measures specially designed to create an environment of maximum security.
Esade will be present at the 4YFN Connectivity Hub, participating with its presentations at the Connectivity Summit together with other partners such as Telefónica (Wayra) and Agora.
Because the future of connectivity goes beyond the evolution of technology
It’s also essential to link talent with training, and ideas with opportunity. Esade has been a platform for new possibilities in Barcelona for more than 60 years, supporting generations of entrepreneurs. Now, more than ever, our education programs, research, expertise and ecosystem of entrepreneurship are helping talented minds to transform the future of business connectivity, including technology as a key connecting axis of knowledge and progress.
We need leaders capable of accelerating meaningful change
Esade's commitment to technological innovation as a source of progress and sustainable development is clear. New ways of approaching business, the search for innovation with impact, and meeting the urgent need for the emergence of disruptive startups all require leadership talent; talent with specific knowledge and abilities, and with the capacity for responsible decision-making aimed at accelerating meaningful change.
Our role as a business school is key in defining this new entrepreneurial and senior leadership; so much so that this will be the objective of our educational strategy in the next academic year.
Agenda and speakers
Esade will support tech talent at 4YFN Barcelona and will share knowledge through two keynote presentations:
Monday, June 28th: ‘Skills to Thrive in the Age of Infinite Leverage’ by Prof. Ivan Bofarull
Monday, June 28th from 5:35 p.m. to 5:55 p.m.
Banco Sabadell Stage (main stage)
Impact Summit Presentation by Prof. Ivan Bofarull
‘Skills to Thrive in the Age of Infinite Leverage’
In a business context with an unprecedented pace of change and disruption, students, parents and potential employers all question the traditional curricula and methodologies of schools and universities. What skills should students learn to thrive in such a context? Discover how the age of infinite leverage unlocks a new set of key skills for the future.
Wednesday, June 30th: ‘Redefining Connectivity. Implications for Cities, Governments, Policies & Business’ by Prof. Esteve Almirall
Wednesday, June 30th from 5:30 p.m. to 5:50 p.m.
Agora stage
Connectivity Summit Presentation by Prof. Esteve Almirall
‘Redefining Connectivity. Implications for Cities, Governments, Policies & Business’
COVID-19 changed many things, among them our notion of connectivity and its relevance. Forget the 30Mbps broadband — that’s obsolete — but also forget the mythical internet surfer, now Zoomer! Connectivity now goes beyond speed, it is about being able to be, act and thrive in a new era where physical and virtual are confused.
Ivan Bofarull
Chief Innovation Officer at Esade, where he also teaches and designs disruptive innovation programs for corporate clients. In the last few years, he has also taught moonshot innovations to both established companies and startup founders in Silicon Valley, in collaboration with Singularity University. During the last four years, he has also collaborated with elBulli Foundation co-leading Esade’s Challenge for Business Innovation. Previously, he was an advisor for global strategy at Georgetown University’s business school. Bofarull is a frequent speaker about disruptive innovations, moonshot innovations and future of education.
Esteve Almirall
Associated Professor at Esade and Director of the Center for Innovation in Cities. He has lectured in universities including UC Berkeley, Purdue, UPF, UPC, and EPFL. With a mixed background in management science and AI, he is passionate about the intersection between digital technologies and innovation, particularly in Smart Cities where he has been involved for more than a decade with Smart City Expo, the World Bank and many European Projects. His research has been published in major scientific journals and he is also a frequent press contributor and speaker.
