Around sixty bridges passed at the stage of EL PAÍS With Tu Futuro (EPCTF) have less knowledge and more than the trayectorias –formativas y vites– that brought them to their current position. Few exposed roads traced a straight line; Some have also brought authentic pirouettes: a doctor in nuclear physics at the head of Leroy Merlin’s talent attraction; a title in International Relations as responsible for alliances with the territory of Moeve –, as a practical demonstration of the right motto with which this tenth edition of the event was presented: “Choose your own adventure”.
“You are the first generation in the history of humanity to be able to invent your work,” asked the audience David Blay, communications and teleworking consultant, author of the book. Why don’t you let us telework. A balm for the 2,000 1st and 2nd degree students, from schools and institutes in Madrid and its surroundings, who participated in person in this EPCTF – some 1,200 others followed in streaming–. The uncertainty of all the years manifested itself before the start of the journey: “I do not know clearly”; “idiot between several careers”; “I see the future with a little fear.”
EPCTF 2025 was organized by EL PAÍS, with AENA, Renfe and Santander as promoters; Acciona, Farmaindustria, IBERIA, L’Oréal Groupe, Leroy Merlin, Moeve, Multiópticas as sponsors; Pontificia de Comillas University and Schiller University partners academics; y Noticiastrabajo as a collaborating company. It has been divided into three rooms – Education and Business (Sala Santander), Science and Technology (Sala Aena) and Art and Creativity (Sala Renfe) –. The students moved with their angel through different spaces and helped them one by one (smaller, more personal meetings) with interested stakeholders.
In the Education and Business room, the experiences of a large number of entrepreneurs – digital and non-digital, in different sectors and with different backgrounds – are alternated with presentations from leaders of large companies. Together, they laughed in a very contrasting speech that crossed the boundaries between “sciences” and “letters” through the air. María Ángeles Quesada, CEO and co-founder of Equánima, affirmed the need for a philosophy in innovation, ethics in artificial intelligence (AI) and humanism in business. Pedro Marcelino, Director Data Driven Experiences & Consumer Care at L’Oréal Group, engaged the audience by explaining how data helps innovation and customer insight, in his case, to offer cosmetic and beauty products.
In the Science and Technology room, particular interest was aroused by the interventions of Fernando García-Moreno, researcher in evolutionary biology at the Basque Center for Neurosciences Achucarro (Ikerbasque); and Edith Guedella, responsible for sustainable development of the Construction activity at Acciona. Schiller International University Professor Mike Beattie talks about AI and the future of work; Jordi Puig (Santander X Award winner) was invited back to to feel with technology; and Elena Aguirre, professor of the Department of Translation, Interpreting and Multilingual Communication at Pontificia Comillas University, began her discussion on the humanities, intelligence and technology.
In the Art and Creativity room, the singer Sonia Gómez and the composer Gonzalo Hermida were perhaps the most popular among the young men and women. The discussions are based on burning issues like sustainability – Nacho Pamies, co-founder of Be Wild Be Proud, talks about sustainable travel – or artistic hybridity – from the writer Joan Darós –. Andrés Gómez Morón, Head of Open Innovation at Renfe, highlighted the importance of innovation spaces such as Trenlab. In the meantime, the artist Yaiza Segovia has entered the world of emotions, claims them and appeals to them: “Emotions change the world”.
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