An interview with Jordi Hereu, mayor of Barcelona E-news

Here you’ll find an update on
events to give you an idea on
what’s going on in the different
services, areas and work
groups in ESADE.
E-news
“When we are unable to find tranquillity within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.”
François de la Rochefoucauld
An interview with
Jordi Hereu,
mayor of Barcelona
Plural
thinking
What about
you?
JUL
07
_untitled
04
Buenos Aires:
Interview:
Francesc Blanco, Registrar’s
Office and Vanessa Sánchez,
Executive Language Center.
Summary
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Elections have been held
03
What about you?
04
E-News
09
Editorial
This month’s
personality
No, we’re not talking about the
municipal elections, but rather,
the elections for our Executive
Committee. The electoral process began on 12 April with the
establishment of the electoral
board; next came the official
publication of the list of eligible
voters and the formal queries regarding the latter. This then led
to the period to present candidatures with the resulting formal
objections and the resolution of
these. Lastly, the electoral campaign began, concluding on 21
May. The following day was a
day for “reflection,” followed by
the actual voting on 23 May.
Participation was noticeably
lower compared to the previous
elections. We hope this is not
due to apathy since it is something which affects us all.
You can still participate in
1713
The Treaty of Utrecht is signed, ending the Spanish War of Succession and
with Spain ceding Gibraltar and Menorca to England.
Guglielmo Marconi patents the radio.
The first World Football Championship is held in Uruguay.
1964 (25 July).
ESADE General Director.
Cyan salon
way, the interested parties,
that is, the company and the
workers, will be able to understand each other and make
mutually satisfactory and consensual decisions.
A day like this
1898
1930
10
the next elections. However,
you can also take part in the
newly-elected Committee and
its activities before then so
that it represents what the real
majority deems best. Only this
Father Mariano G. Ibar Albiñana is named
1989 (July) The ESADE Alumni Association is created.
1992 (21 July) Royal Decree 474/1992 is published, officially recognising
ESADE’s undergraduate degree in Business Administration (ADE), until then a private
degree offered since 1964.
Famous anniversaries
02
The cafeteria
14
Plural thinking
16
The portrait
- Summer is finally here!
- Yeah, I love going outside to feel that nice heat!
María José Marimon
What about you?
Buenos Aires Campus, the youngest
member of the ESADE family
Expressió tangible de la vocació internacional d’ESADE, el Campus Buenos Aires neix amb una perspectiva regional vinculada, especialment, a la
important presència d’empreses espanyoles i d’antics alumnes de la casa
a tots els països del con sud d’Amèrica.
The adventure began with a small group of entrepreneurs. Paradoxically, however, in a country like
Argentina which leaves you breathless due to the enormous distances and its geographical size, we
have to explain exactly what we mean by small.
Until last March, the staff at ESADE’s Buenos Aires Campus consisted of María, Montserrat,
Carlos, and Alejandro; a true challenge for organisational chart specialists and assigning roles
and strategy design. Three months ago, however, the number of staff members grew “enormously”, by 50%, from 4 to 6 employees!
To find out what we do more than 12,000 kilometres from our main campus, you can visit our webpage (www.esade.edu/buenosaires). We want to use this space, however, for the rest of the ESADE
family to meet us and get to know what we’re like. We’re your cousins who, despite being separated
by an ocean, strive to meet the same objectives as those working from Barcelona and Madrid. By the
way, ESADE phone extensions 2393 and 5354 help us bridge the distance to both cities.
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María Elvira Vázquez, is 30 years old and from Cordoba (Argentina).
Her friends call her Negu, she’s single, and has been with us since August
2004. She holds an undergraduate degree in International Relations and
a post-graduate degree in Management. She worked for various South
American consulates before joining our team. In her free time, she enjoys
travelling, doing yoga, going to the theatre, and listening to music.
Karina Di Paolo, Dipa, began working with us this past February. She
is the only true “native” of San Isidro on the team (the area where our
Campus is located); she is single and, at 29, the youngest member of
the group. She holds an undergraduate degree in Social Communications and a post-graduate degree in Human Resources. She spends her
free time travelling, reading, writing, and listening to music.
María Paula Toscano, Toscanini for us, has been a team member
since this past March (our newest colleague). A native of Buenos Aires,
this Porteña is single and 31 years old. She is about to receive her
undergraduate degree in Social Communications. She unwinds and
has fun playing sports, especially paddle ball. She also likes reading
and seeing films.
Montserrat Jiménez García, Montse, is 32 years old and Catalan
through and through. She has been with us since April 2004, having
worked previously in ESADE’s Barcelona Campus for eight years. She
crossed the Atlantic on two separate adventures: to start a family with
an Argentine (Martín) and to help us develop our project here in Buenos
Aires. She is a Telecommunications Engineer, and her hobbies include
reading, sweets, travelling (the stranger the destination, the better), and
“mountains!” among others.
En Carlos Sicurello, Sicu, is 43 years old and the true Porteño voice
on the team. He holds an MBA from ESADE and has been with us since
August 2004. He has an undergraduate degree in International Trade,
working many years for the Universidad Argentina de la Empresa before joining our team. He shares his life with Adriana. In the free time
that ESADE permits him, he plays tennis and spends time with his
family and friends.
L’Alejandro Bernhardt, The German (for obvious reasons), is 53
years old and originally from the Entre Ríos province, though he is
Cordobés by adoption. He was the project’s primary instigator. He is
an economist and holds an MBA from ESADE and a PhD in Business
Administration. He is married to Victoria and has two “babies”: César
(27 years old) and Germán (21 years old). Like his sons, he is a true
rock and roll fan, though he prefers “classic rock, harmonic and without a lot of modern contaminants.”
What are each of us responsible for? Although there is a certain
degree of division, in fact, we all do a bit of everything as is demanded
by this incredible initial phase within the project.
Montse Jiménez
Fina López-Cozar
Our colleague, Fina López-Cozar, enjoyed her weekend getaway
after winning the contest to find a name for our magazine. Here
we can see her with Núria and Ignasi, El Querol Vell’s owners. If
you’re looking for somewhere to rest and enjoy nature, now you
know where to go.
CREDITS
Editorial board:
Colaborations:
Checking text & translation:
Servei Lingüístic
José Mª Álvarez de Lara
Ana Solá
Mª José Marimón (The cafete-
Óscar Bistué
José Antonio Mengual
ria), Montse Jiménez (What
Ivana Casaburi
Mila Miras
about you?), Miriam Clota (G8
Design art direction:
Rebecaa Carpi
Adela Nebot
and _untitled), and Sergi Fern-
adms :: admediastudio.com
José M Contijoch
Susana Pérez
ández (photo interview Jordi
Anna Díaz
Josep Soler
Hereu and interview Francesc
David Fernández-Manzanos
Mónica Sisternas
and Vanessa).
Imprent:
Imgesa
4
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More Than Just a Class
Last June, the now traditional classes in Catalan aimed at those of us within the ESADE community who come from elsewhere
came to end. The result of these classes is nothing but excellent, if we don’t mind saying so ourselves!!!
For those of us participating, these classes represent much more than learning a language. They represent our interest in bridging a gap with a culture we live side by side
with and a land that has welcomed us. They represent the possibility of interacting with people we wouldn’t have had the chance to meet otherwise, even though we work
for the same organisation, and, as such, they let us get to know each other a little better. In addition, they also represent ESADE’s commitment to not forget its origins
which it is very proud of.
Here at _untitled, we’d like to say “see you soon” to Mireia who is leaving after having taught these classes so many years and, of course, welcome Núria, our new professor
with whom we will continue to learn Catalan and about Catalan customs.
David Fernandez-Manzanos
“ “ “ “
Núria Sabé, “Ubi
amici, ubi opes”
When David proposed we participate in
this article, the truth is that it excited
us. It’s nice to be a part of a common
project, and Catalan classes are exactly
that: a pleasant meeting point in which,
among all of us, we learn Catalan but
also about the customs, the way to think
and do things around the world. My name
is Núria and, as an external employee of
the ESADE Language Advisory Service, I
try to make the classes dynamic, where
we learn the language while, at the same
time, have fun. Delectare et prodesse,
enjoy and learn. The goal is to learn the
language for life, to be able to understand, comprehend, and, without doubt,
communicate. This has been a very interesting course for me; it has been a
real pleasure to be and work with my students. Thanks to all of them for the time
spent, the laughs and even the “pronom
feble”-induced headaches!
Iñaki Irisarri
“For me, Catalan classes are a space
where I force myself to parlar català and,
a més a més, do it in a fun setting. They
helped me take the first step and speak it
with my Catalan friends who have always
talked to me in Castilian; but since I’ve
gone to these classes, I answer them in
Catalan. They call me the Ramon Llull in
the gang.”
“
Julie Chrysler
I liked the class a lot because I’ve met a
lot of ESADE colleagues and been able
to improve my Catalan in a fun environment! I hope to continue next year!”
Smeralda
Ugoccionni
“Catalan classes have allowed me to interact better in my daily life in Barcelona, when
I’m in Catalan-speaking environments, both
at the professional and personal levels. I
feel more comfortable being able to share
the culture of the autochthonous locals.
Besides being a chance to learn, they have
been a great opportunity to get to know
colleagues from other departments a little
better and share their concerns and interests. The dynamics in class are a lot of
fun and didactic: I learned by having fun!
Thank you ESADE for giving me this opportunity!”
“
Esther Van de
Paverd
“I loved Catalan classes… I’ve been able
to start to learn Catalan and the classes
have given me the confidence to start
introducing it into my day-to-day routine.
Both Mireia and Núria are excellent professors and they made class a fun and
learning experience.”
Jeroen Verhoeven
“What I liked about the Catalan classes
was the fun way to learn in class due
to the mix of different activities such as
oral exercises, grammar, games, and
readings. Learning a language with colleagues from work is really fun. Besides,
when class is over, you can recognise
and put many of the subjects dealt with
into practice.”
“
Martina Dreher
Disfruto mucho en las clases de catalán porque la profesora tiene mucho
temperamento (supongo que será temperamento catalán) y las clases son muy
entretenidas. Hacemos muchos juegos,
hablamos mucho y el ambiente con el
resto de compañeros es muy bueno.
Todo ello hace que aprender catalán sea
muy divertido.
E-News
I mention two very different people who
were an example of a specific plurality
which I think is very positive.
How do you remember your days at
ESADE as a student?
Well, that was many years ago, but I remember it as a time in which I had a lot
of fun, in which I learnt a lot. I made a lot
of great friends here.
In class, I clearly remember that there
were two very differentiated types of students: those who sat in the first row and
those who sat at the back. To give you
an idea, I tended to be more like those
in the last row. The students there were
very enterprising, a slightly different type
of person.
I remember that ESADE was smaller
than now. I’m talking about the 80s. Law
wasn’t taught here; in terms of the MBA
programmes, the part-time programme
was already well-established, Public Administration was beginning to see the
light. We could tell that it was an area
that would grow in importance, as has
later proved to be the case.
As you probably know, ESADE is
celebrating its 50th anniversary this
coming academic year. Do you feel
that these values are still maintained today?
I think so. They’re values which are also
very linked to the Company of Jesus,
to the Jesuits, and they’ve never been
add-ons, but rather, they’re a part of the
institution’s nucleus and foundations and
totally compatible with academic excellence. In my opinion, a good business
leader is one who dominates the techniques, technology, and who incorporates the necessary leadership elements
in an increasingly complex society. I think
ESADE offers these values. These social
responsibility issues have always been
important to me.
In your current “job” as Mayor,
do you find applications for these
values?
The business world has always interested me and that’s why I came to this
school. But I’ve also been very interested
in social reflection issues. In that sense, I
do find applications. That’s why I was especially interested in classes such as the
History of Socio-Economic Thought, Organisation, and Social Philosophy. That’s
what attracted me most about the external facet of the company: respecting
what people might need. In that sense,
the comparison with a Mayor’s function
is very clear.
Is there any one professor who left
his or her imprint on you and that
you especially remember, whether
positively or negatively?
I do remember one professor who had
an impact on me and who, I think, unfortunately passed away recently: Samuel
Husenman, who dealt with Social Psychology and Organisation issues. He was
a surprising person. In the best sense,
he was the typical “mad professor.” I remember someone else with completely
different characteristics, Josep Angrill,
from Accounting, as someone very wellrespected. I still remember arriving in
the morning and beginning the class with
a prayer.
Given that this magazine is an
internal communication aimed at
ESADE personnel, we know that,
at one point, you “switched sides”
and became “one of us.” Do you
remember that experience?
For just a short while, but I worked for
just over a month with wonderful people like Valentina Luengo and Mr. Milà
from the Admissions Committee. What
I remember from that time is that the
selection process was very rigorous,
with a lot of analysis. It was a centre that
processed more applications than spots
available in the programme, there was
greater demand than offer, and as such,
there was a real selection process, which
was kind of funny to learn about from the
other side. From a human perspective,
I remember Valentina and Mr. Milà and
all the employees as fantastic people, as
very endearing and charming people.
I saw a really good relationship between
the students and the workers. Everyone,
from the bar to all the service staff, succeeded in making us feel very comfortable. There was a very good relationship,
more than endearing.
From the outside, there was the perception that this was a school for “yuppies,” as they used to say in the 80s. But
it wasn’t so much like that. Obviously,
there was a bit of everything, but when
you entered here, that myth was broken.
I’d like to highlight, again, the normality
of this centre, compatible with academic
excellence.
The best thing about a school like
ESADE is that, while teaching us about
how a company works, it was also an organisation with its own internal structure,
which had its own training processes,
practices, etc. This organisational dimension, with its people, is what also served
for me to get to know the institution a
little better, both the professors as well
as the people who worked behind the
scenes: services, administration, etc. I
remember the group around the photocopy department, who we hit it off with.
We even organised parties together with
a type of group we called “Happy Party.”
I have fond memories of that as a very
fun stage in life.
How do you feel that institutions
such as ESADE can collaborate to
make Barcelona a global brand
and have greater prestige internationally?
I think that they’ve played a fundamen-
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tal role since they position us as a city
where there are very prestigious elements which give the city a certain centrality and capital-like quality. That is a
value that needs to be maintained and,
as such, having schools such as ESADE
is a great asset and it needs to continue
to be so, it can’t be lost. Barcelona reinforces ESADE and ESADE has reinforced
and has built a lot for the city. A city’s
image is built by summing up a lot of aspects and one of these is the existence
of centres such as ESADE.
If ESADE were a city, how would you
describe its citizens?
Citizens which are demanding because of
how demanding they are with themselves.
A little like Barcelona, with an active, demanding citizenry, but also an interesting
civic culture. The people who go to ESADE
are demanding, but by being demanding
with themselves. The fact that they come
to this school demonstrates it. It’s a good
bet for personal growth.
“
“
An interview with Jordi
Hereu, mayor of Barcelona
5
I’d like to wish you lots of
luck because this (grabbing
hold of the magazine) creating the sense of belonging
to a project is, has been,
and will continue to be
fundamental. The organisations that do have it, have a
great asset.
I’d like to wish you lots of luck because this (grabbing hold of the magazine) is something which is explained
in a lot of classes, which is present in
the theory, but which any organisation
has to truly think about. It’s important
for ESADE to serve as an example with
these types of initiatives, which seem
fundamental to me to share information,
wishes, desires, challenges, in order to
make the entire organisation more cohesive. They are vital issues. Creating
the sense of belonging to a project is,
has been, and will continue to be fundamental. The organisations that do have
it, have a great asset.
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G8 y _untitled
INFOTIC: Everything the
ICT Service Can Do to Help
Here at ICT Services, we’ve
launched an online space for
technological support, INFOTIC,
http://shared.esade.edu/infotic. Its aim is to facilitate communication and it is open to the
entire ESADE community.
You’ll find the following sections in INFOTIC:
Tips, we provide you with
practical advice on how to
solve technical problems in just
one page.
Guides, this section includes practical help on configuring programmes or carrying
out specific tasks.
Classrooms, in this section, you’ll find user manuals
to make it easier to use the
technical equipment found in
ESADE classrooms.
Services, this lists the technological services ICT offers
ESADE students, administrative personnel/staff, and faculty members.
Multimedia, Here you can
learn about the wide variety of
When Intermón-Oxfam (IO) called
me to participate in a group consisting of 30 activists in an alternative G8 summit, I didn’t have
to give it much thought: I wanted
to go. After many years actively
helping as a campaign and social mobilization volunteer, I had
the chance to personally take
part in an international political
event with a lot of impact and,
at the same time, carry out our
mobilization actions. Along with
a group of activists in Germany,
IO reinforced the scope and link
of its work to international political processes.
While the G-8 leaders were
meeting during the official summit to make decisions affecting
the world’s entire population
though giving priority to meeting the particular interests of
their respective countries, thousands of activists from around
the world also gathered close to
where the leaders met, to remind
them of their as of yet unfulfilled
promises, resulting in millions of
deaths due to poverty. To give
just one example, IO calculates
that if the G-8 does not fulfil the
promise it made at the Gleneagles summit in 2005 to increase
aid in 2010 by 30,000 million
dollars, it will imply the death of
5 million people, the majority of
these children.
Beyond the photos of violent
protests which the press has
published, the alternative summit
is a meeting point for NGOs, social movements, people, etc., to
exchange ideas, share their experiences, create networks, and foment common initiatives. The alternative summit agenda includes
three days of conferences and
workshops by internationally recognised speakers such as Susan
George or Vandana Shiva. Similarly, it is a great media opportunity
to lobby for and promote another
type of globalisation since all of
the world’s media are focused
there. For this reason, multitudinous demonstrations and activities are organised. Though these
activities are non-violent, at times,
they end with violent actions by a
small minority.
The formal summit’s agenda
focuses on topics such as poverty and Africa, health, peace and
worldwide security, and the crisis
that all of us will have to face due
to global warming. The truth is
that, once more, well-defined
objectives or sufficient levels of
commitment have not come out
of this summit. At any rate, we will
closely monitor their policies because they can truly change the
lives of millions of people. For example, there is Mozambique, one
of the world’s poorest countries,
which, after the G8 cancelled its
foreign debt in 2005, has begun
to offer children vaccines against
whooping-cough and diphtheria
with the aim of eradicating these
fatal diseases.
As such, we will meet at the
next G8 summit to protest and
demand what we consider fair.
Don’t you think it’s worth it?
multimedia services we offer.
In addition, you’ll find links to
other areas of interest:
E-Office Allows you to check
your email, change passwords,
access R and S drives, check
your voicemail or connect to
different services, as if you
were actually at ESADE.
Problems Lets you to consult and track the problems
you’ve reported to ICT User
Services (CAU).
The objective of all of these
is to make it easier for you to
find what you need to make the
most of the technology around
us. It is your/our space, and
we invite you to participate; the
door is always open. We look
forward to your comments and
suggestions.
Should you have any questions or doubts, please feel
free to contact the ICT Service
by email ([email protected]) or
telephone (extension 2314).
Josep Soler y Servicio TIC
Solidarity-minded
Colleagues
Míriam Clota
Servei d’Organització
i Suport Estratègic
Our colleagues, Xènia Jarque,
Isabel Roca, and Montse Parellada (from left to right) have
been working for some time
with the organisation Soñar
Despierto (Dreaming Awake).
Last Sunday, 17 June, they
helped organise the 1st Soñar
Despierto Football Tournament.
Previously, they helped organise
the children’s visit to the Port
Aventura amusement park.
Soñar Despierto is a non-profit
organisation made up of young
people. Its aim is to help the most
needy children in our community
through social, cultural, sporting,
and recreational activities.
http://www.sdespierto.es
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INTERVIEW WITH MONTSE ZURANO, CHAIRMAN OF THE STAFF COMMITTEE
Sant Cugat Developments: “The highpoint is always reaching
_untitled at the worksite
an agreement”
How long have you been on
the Committee?
A long time, sometimes I think too
long. There’s evidence to show I’ve
been on it since 1985 but before
that I was also on the ‘social committee’, an unofficial staff committee that channelled employees’
requests to management.
As of September, we’ll publish
regular updates on the state of
the Sant Cugat campus.
As a preview, here is a picture of the construction project
controllers who meet up every
Wednesday in Sant Cugat to su-
pervise construction. From left to
right: Paco Llamas, Ramon Aspa,
Josep Miralles, Raquel Boza, Teresa Careta, and Josep Gavaldà.
For further information, you
can visit: http://blogs.esade.edu/
blogs/obras_stcugat/default.aspx
Sad news for the
internal community
at ESADE
On behalf of everyone at ESADE,
the Editorial Board of _untitled
would like to send our condolences to the family of Josep
Palau Capell, a second-year student in the Part-Time MBA programme.
Like most of us, I found out
about the loss of Josep Palau,
one of our participants in the final year of the Part-Time MBA,
by email. His last class in the
Masters programme was to
have been on Monday 2nd July,
and I was going to give it. His
group had been getting good
results and he always participated actively in class. I am
convinced that ESADE’s values
attract very special people, and
in the case of Josep, this was
clear. Quiet and polite, clever
and eager to learn, competent
and competitive, he was also a
good colleague and a friend to
all. Classmates would frequently
be consulting him on one thing
or another. Every week he would
send me emails with some very
apt comments and questions,
those that we label ‘noteworthy’,
which I would sometimes forward to the whole group with the
postscript “My thanks to Josep
Palau”. He was a participant you
could feel proud of and one that
you knew would accomplish a
lot of good. The sad fact that he
is no longer with us will move all
of us who knew him to do things
well, as he himself always did.
His memory will always be with
us. And once again, “My thanks
to Josep Palau”.
Jordi Brunat.
I could never have imagined having to speak of Josep in these
circumstances. But in view of
what has happened, I have to
say that Josep was one of those
people you take a liking to right
from the beginning. Shy – we all
remember how he would blush
in class when he had to stand up
and speak in front of everyone
– modest, hard-working, bright
and always ready to listen and
give good advice whenever you
needed it, he became for many
of us one of those friends you
turn to when you need a sensible and mature opinion.
Josep, thanks to you, many of
us have come to learn the value
and meaning of work well done,
we have learned from your capacity for consensus and humility. It was a privilege to be your
friend. We will never forget you.
Salvador Codina.
What is the purpose of the
staff committee?
Staff committees are intended
to advise workers on their
rights. They are also intended to
help improve working conditions
and to get employees’ opinions
across to management in the
hope of reaching agreements.
How does it work?
Being an institution with over 250
employees, the staff committee is
a 13-strong team that represents
all groups within the institution, educational and administrative staff
alike, as representing all groups
that make up ESADE staff is
something we’ve always striven to
achieve. We have monthly meetings and also work in committees:
training, health and safety, recruitment, languages, job evaluations,
and so on. Email is a fast and effective tool for passing on information among committee members.
Of all the objectives set out
by this committee, what has
been achieved since you’ve
been part of it?
I believe the work schedule
agreement has been very im-
portant, as it has allowed us to
set out the basic limits in writing. I also think we’ve obtained
greater flexibility in terms of
how we deal with accumulated
hours for staff members with
greater control over working
hours.
mittee members we’re learning on the job all the time.
Taking into account the opinions of other committee members, asking for and getting
opinions from colleagues, and
interacting with Management
can be very rewarding.
The best moment that
comes to mind on the committee:
The highpoint is always reaching an agreement.
Why is it important to have
a staff committee?
I have learned that, like it or
not, things are the way they
are. The governments are
what they are, and the same
goes for the unions. We can
complain and be defeatist all
we want, but things take on a
dynamic of their own and will
carry on regardless of what
you or I want. So, you can either get stuck in, or you can
step aside. I understand that’s
the way things are, and sometimes things can look quite
bleak and disheartening but,
one thing’s for sure, I’m not
a quitter. If there’s something
I don’t like about the unions I
try to understand their way of
working and then I complain
about it, and I find a way of
making them come round to
my way of thinking so they can
do something about taking us
into consideration in the future. It’d sure be a lot more
fun just to “tell them all where
to go”, but experience tells
me that should be reserved
as the very last option.
The worst moment that
comes to mind on the committee:
The worst moment was the
death of our colleague and committee member, Pilar Mallofré,
who died in a car crash. Other
bad moments are dismissals
because, somehow, I think of
them as a breakdown in the
task of intermediation.
The funniest moment you
can remember:
The truth is we have a lot of
laughs here, especially as
a result of some of the nonsense that crops up from time
to time. You have to learn to
put some distance between
you and the situation - there
can be some real Kafkian moments.
What have you gained from
the committee personally?
Employment relations is a
complex issue, and as com-
Results:
Total eligible voters: 434
Men: 193
Women: 241
Votes for the CCOO
candidate: 179
Blank votes: 9
Total number of votes cast: 188
Participation rate: 43%
Men: 63
(66% of total votes)
Women: 125
(34% of total votes)
1995
1999
2003
2007
Total eligible voters
Men
Women
306
157
149
349
163
186
391
168
223
434
193
241
Total votes cast
Total participation
Men
Women
160
52%
67
93
168
48%
67
101
182
47%
53
129
188
43%
63
125
75 %
28 %
8%
63 %
29 %
29 %
54 %
25 %
37 %
Participation by groups
PAS
Faculty
Language Professors
8
E-News
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Where are we going on holiday?
Our upcoming holidays are the most common
topic of conversation these days: “where are
you going?”, “with whom?”, “what are you going to do?”, etc.
Since it is such a common topic, _untitled
asked these same questions to 137 people at
ESADE, and the results are as follows: those
of us at ESADE will travel around the world,
from exotic destinations such as Pakistan,
Thailand, India, Africa or Brazil to other, more
conventional spots. But where you’ll find most
ESADE colleagues is in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands.
Where?
Another way to do the
Camino de Santiago
Type of holiday?
We were not at all surprised to find that 71%
of those surveyed are after some rest and
relaxation (R&R), though there are also more
adventurous sorts and cyclists, as well as volunteers working with children this summer.
Quote: “Nobody needs a holiday like someone
who has just had one.” Anonymous
With whom?
Mónica Sisternas
And in the October
issue...events marking
ESADE’s 50th Anniversary, Sant Cugat, new
projects, our own comic
strip, interviews and
much, much more.
Don’t miss it!
Last January, our colleagues
Eva Rodríguez and Fina Fernández from the Economic-Financial Management Service
(SGEF) decided to organise a
mini three-day trip to relax and
get away from it all. What did
they decide to do? Easy: the
Camino de Santiago pilgrimage
(St. James’ Way). The truth is,
they opted for a special pilgrimage: comfortable, from hotel to
hotel, surviving only on seafood.
Needless to say, these two pilgrims did not have to endure
bleeding feet as a result. They
flew to Santiago de Compostela
and, once there, jumped into
their rented car to carry out the
rest of their journey.
Below are a few words by the
two excursionists about their trip
and who, against all odds, returned.
To begin with, we should say
that it was a short but fantastic
trip. We had a great time! Santiago is a fabulous city, quiet and
welcoming. It invites you to wander around its small streets full of
small bars and restaurants offering excellent food.
The Cathedral is incredible,
just like the atmosphere in the
Plaza del Obradoiro where you
see hundreds of people of all races and colours who have finished
the Camino in different ways:
some walking, others on bike,
and, of course “others by plane.”
Although tired, they all seem satisfied to have fulfilled their goal.
We really enjoyed it and in just
three days we visited Santiago,
La Coruña, Vigo, and Orense. It
may seem exhausting, but we
came back rested and with lots
of energy (especially rested, of
course).
We had so much fun, in fact,
that we’re planning on organising
a “getaway” every year from now
on. Several people have already
joined up for next year’s trip.
Where are we going? Granada,
San Sebastian, Toledo…? We’ll
keep you posted..
Adela Nebot.
This month’s personality
How did you start working at ESADE?
Thanks to an acquaintance. I started in the department,
at that time called the Department of Notes, coinciding
with someone on a temporary leave of absence.
What did you think on your first day of work at
ESADE?
I don’t remember. My first impression was good. It
seemed like a good organisation.
Higinio Lahoz, head of the Reprography Service in
Building 2, has witnessed the last 28 years at ESADE.
His work has allowed him to interact on a daily basis
with different groups at ESADE: departmental secretaries, professors, and students. On behalf of all of these:
Thank you, Higinio, for your quick and efficient response!
Por Ivana Casaburi.
“I guide myself by its principles. I’ve
always aimed to do a good job,
professionally and socially.”
How long have you been at ESADE?
Twenty-eight years, since 1979.
What do you do?
I work in the Reprography Service. I’m the director and
I coordinate all the notes for students, the faculty, and
secretaries.
Describe in just a few words what all these years
have been like.
They’ve been positive despite all the problems that
come up normally in our day-to-day work.
Enrique Jurado Salván, Director of ESADE’s
Communication and Press Service. Journalist.
By Susana Pérez.
There are two things at ESADE that are
very important for me: its openness and
its humanistic orientation.
How long have you been working for ESADE?
Almost seven years. In part, I was here when the office
moved from Orense street to the inauguration of the new
building in Madrid; in effect, for ESADE’s “landing” in Madrid.
And what do you do?
I’m the Director of Communications at ESADE.
When you started here, what was your first impression of ESADE?
I was already familiar with ESADE from the outside due to
my work as a journalist for the El País newspaper. In fact,
my relationship with ESADE —from the outside, I insist—
dates back four years prior. That’s why it was no surprise
for me since I already knew the institution.
And the first impression of your colleagues?
Very positive because, in the beginning, we were a very small
group. Estaban Guillermo Cisneros, Eugenio Recio, Teresa
In your opinion, what has changed most at ESADE
since then?
The truth is that absolutely everything: the personal and
social relationships and the pace of work.
What would you have changed? What would you
change now?
I wouldn’t change a thing from back then; everything
was nice and positive despite having to work a lot.
Now everything is unpredictable, fast, momentary, etc.
Anem per feina, as you say in Catalan.
9
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Quick qutions
The colour you can NOT leave home without:
Yellow.
The film or play you would have liked to star in:
The Sting.
The song you would have liked to have written
(and sung):
“Bridge over Troubled Waters,”
by Simon & Garfunkel.
The historical figure you would have liked to
have been:
My uncle Ramón, who I learned a lot from.
The book you would have liked to have written:
The story of my life.
The city you’d like to lose yourself in: París.
The place that represents you best:
My hometown, La Mata de los Olmos (Teruel)
Tell us about the funniest thing that ever happened
here.
More than a funny anecdote, I remember the many
hours I spent with Francisco Francisco Martínez, from
the Library. His favourite topics were football and wom- Who would you like for us to give this questionnaire
en and, the truth is, he was really funny and fun.
to next?
I wouldn’t wish this “uncomfortable moment” on anyAs a person, what ESADE value do you identify
body, but perhaps it would be interesting to learn about
most with?
Nuria Durán’s professional life at ESADE. She’s a colMore than identifying with a value, I guide myself by its league who’s also been here many years and who has
principles. I’ve always aimed to do a good job, profes- worked in several departments.
sionally and socially.
Rioboo, Julia Rodríguez, and Manolo Ramiro; here in Madrid,
we were like a small family. Now the family has grown.
Quick qutions
Tell us about your best and worst experience at
ESADE.
The worst: Toni Güell’s death. It made me very sad because
he was someone you learned a lot from and I have the
sensation that all of us here, in Madrid, could have learned
a lot from him.
The best: the surprise party my colleagues organised for
me in Madrid when I finished my PhD. It was a very pleasant
surprise. On the other hand, I’m also very happy when I see
that ESADE news items are published in the press every day.
That’s when I realise that our work means something.
If you were a historical figure, you’d be… Ghandi.
Tell us an anecdote about something that happened
to you at ESADE.
I’ll tell you a fun one. At a party organised by a newspaper,
I made a mistake and greeted someone I thought was the
publication’s director on two separate occasions. Guillermo
Cisneros and I laughed a lot about that.
Is there one colleague you’d like to have lunch with
one day?
It would be nice to have lunch with any colleague, but if I had
to choose, it would be Luis de Sebastián. I would probably
learn a lot.
Which colleague would you go out on the town with?
I’d get together my colleagues in Madrid and the Communication Service where Isabel Navarro, Rosa Sadurní, Berta
Ares, and Colin McElwee work.
Where would you like to see yourself at ESADE in
three years’ time?
I feel very satisfied with the work I do. Without a doubt,
everyone aspires to being able to do more things, but I’d
If you were a monument, you’d be… the façade on
the Romanic church in Santo Domingo in Soria.
If you were an animal, you’d be… a horse.
If you were a sport, you’d be… a mountain bike.
If you were a book, you’d be… “Campos de
Castilla”, by Antonio Machado.
If you were a song, you’d be… “Imagine”, by John
Lennon, and “Viatge a Itaca”, by Lluís Llach.
If you were some forgotten out-of-the-way place,
you’d be… the beginning of “La Regenta”, by Clarín:
“Vetusta duerme la siesta…”.
If you weren’t you, who would you like to be?…
Joan Manuel Serrat.
like to continue doing what I do. That said, I’d like to have
more company, since the rest of the Communication Service is 600 kilometres away (in Barcelona) and, at times,
“the phone is very cold”, as the rock song goes.
On a personal level, what ESADE value do you most
identify with?
Two values. There are two things at ESADE that are very
important for me: its openness and its humanistic orientation. I think those are two elements that have to be fostered
in our day-to-day lives.
Who do you think we should give this questionnaire to?
Susana Pérez.
10
Cyan salon
¿Who
needs
a
holiday?
In theory, holidays are meant
for us to relax, forget about
work, avoid having a nervous breakdown as a result of
hearing the word “synergy”
on a continual basis, and
forget what our bosses and
colleagues look like since,
at this point in the academic
year, one starts to fantasise
about using them as bull’seyes in an shooting competition. Believe me, if all this is
what you aim to do, I guarantee you won’t succeed.
Let’s say, for example, that you’re going to the Balearic Islands: a lot of big and small islands, secluded spots, a tiny village with 100 inhabitants celebrating their summer festival
in the middle of Menorca... You are calmly enjoying the music, the “noise,” and practicing a
varied repertoire of spasmodic movements to avoid being flattened by a horse when, suddenly, a vivacious young woman appears, noticeably affected by the pomada she’s had
to drink, with her motor skills and perception dramatically reduced; she approaches and,
shouting like a lorry driver, says: “Hello, handsome! I know you! You’re from ESADE!”
A nudist beach is not very recommended either. Imagine yourself lying belly up to feel
“free” and in communion with nature and for certain parts of your body which are not used
to being exposed to the sun’s rays to lose their colour (and texture) of Egyptian papyrus
when, suddenly, you see a professor approaching in the distance. This requires a desperate manoeuvre on your part, consisting of a quick and skilful 180º body flip in order to
reveal only the lower part of your back (commonly known as your bottom) to said professor, hoping that it is the least familiar/identifiable part of your anatomy, all the while risking
a serious injury to the lower part of your torso (commonly known as…, well, let’s just leave
it at that) and holding your breath until the danger has passed.
You shouldn’t believe that travelling to the opposite end of the earth will maintain your
anonymity either. You reach the Australian continent expecting to see kangaroos, koalas
and other marsupials, visit a large red mountain, find yourself unavoidably with a group
of 500 Italians, and, if you’re lucky, a romantic evening (if the Italians let you) with Kilye
Minogue or (for the more nostalgic and/or less demanding) Olivia Newton John or, you can
dream, Elle McPherson. What you don’t expect to find is an alumnus from the full-time MBA
programme on an amazing riverboat excursion through the jungle. Said individual, aware
of one’s professional condition (who yours truly has naively informed him of previously), is
determined to explain in great detail his presumably interesting student experience at our
institution, offering an improvised ranking of his most loved/hated/indifferent professors
(whose names I will obviously leave out due to a fundamental sense of professional ethics
and a deep concern for my physical integrity). The result is that, after a twenty-five-minute
monologue, you suffer from an uncontrollable desire to throw said alumnus into the river
(infested by crocodiles and other carnivorous and/or poisonous beasts) and shoot him
straight after should mother nature not keep its course.
Neither are you safe on top of a mountain: after climbing 2,500 metres to Machu Picchu, with your mouth as wide as a hippopotamus’, trying to find that breath of oxygen to
avoid an imminent fainting spell, you expect to find ruins and, at most, some lost llama, but
not a group of fifth-year students perfectly dressed in Coronel Tapiocca uniforms wondering why your face looks so familiar to them.
Listen to me. Lock yourself away at home, turn on the air conditioner full blast (who
cares what Al Gore thinks!), see all the DVDs you can, listen to jazz or, even, destroy hundreds of brain cells watching “Aquí hay tomate,” but, especially, don’t go out; do not travel
under any circumstance: no matter where you go, they’ll find you; there is no escape.
Josep M Contijoch
Open-air Cinema
The summer’s here at last! And with it comes one of
the most tempting attractions of the season: ‘Open-air
Cinema’ - a good repertoire of films accompanied
by the scent of grass on the cool, summer-night
breeze. Whatever town you live in, there will likely be
a Civic Centre near you offering the chance to enjoy a
good film ‘al fresco’ either free or at a very reasonable price. We’ve put together a series of interesting
proposals to tempt you this summer:
SANT CUGAT
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8.30 pm
onwards over the next five weeks, from 2nd July to
3rd August. There will be cool grass to sprawl out on
and music to relax to before the screenings.
Some of the films in the cycle: Little Miss Sunshine,
Scoop and La vida de los otros…
www.valldoreix.cat
BARCELONA
Organised by Verdi Cinemas, you can enjoy good
independent cinema in original version as you
relax on the grass under the silhouette of Montjuic
Castle, dining on sandwiches and olives that you
brought from home.
Some of the films in the cycle: Million Dollar Baby,
La Tierra Yerma, The Fearless Vampire Killers, Toro
salvaje…
www.salamontjuic.com
TERRASSA
This summer, the Ateneu Candela in Terrassa is organising an ‘Al Fresco Film’ cycle featuring independent productions.
Some of the films in the cycle: La Famiglia d’Ettore
Scola and Las cartas de Alou by Montxo Armendáriz.
www.communia.org/candela
Anna Díaz
Llibre: My family and
other animals
The naturalist and zoologist Gerald Durrell wrote this
fun and autobiographical novel many years ago about
a long, family vacation on the isle of Corfu. The narrator —a child when the novel takes place— describes
the nice, sweet, and, at times, absolutely hilarious
moments during his extravagant family’s adventures
on this Greek island.
The novel begins with Mrs. Durrell and her children
deciding to visit Corfu to escape from the rainy British
weather. Once in Greece, they discover new hobbies
such as writing, sunbathing, meeting members of the
opposite sex or getting acquainted with the island’s
animals, thus giving name to this successful novel. If
the novel has one setback, it is that Durrell, a prestigious zoologist more than novelist, at times focuses
excessively on naturalist descriptions. Nevertheless,
this is soundly compensated by moving on to the next
line, the reader laughing out loud about one of this
peculiar and endearing family member’s anecdotes.
If you want to have a good time and start thinking
about your upcoming holiday, we recommend you
travel with the Durrell family… and the other animals!
Mila Miras
For the senses
On the divan
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Cyan salon
11
Photos with Heart
Montse José is the person who makes sure we
all have rooms available on a daily basis to for
our academic activities. Seeing these wonderful
photos, we can see the incredible patience and
affection she shows at ESADE, qualities which
are also present in this other facet of her life.
Today, Montse offers us these true gifts for both
our eyes and hearts.
How did you get interested in photography?
My interest in photography developed as
a result of my first trips. Little by little, I
realised that there was another way to see
the world, different from the one we’re used
to. With the camera, you capture other feelings which escape us due to the hectic life
we lead: you can capture a person’s soul
through the lens.
For me, photography has become a way
of feeling that opens a broad range of sensory perceptions, different from the ones we
live, engulfed in the hectic rhythm our day-today imposes on us.
What do you remember from your first
pictures?
I remember that, when I was revealing
them, I was amazed by how you could capture expressions and feelings. Since then,
I’ve tried to develop technically; now I look
for other things, too, especially since digital cameras have come out. The digital era
has opened up a lot of possibilities to experiment and learn.
Speaking about learning, are you selftaught?
Yes; I haven’t taken any type of class. I’ve
learned with the help of some books and
magazines. Photography is a hobby that
requires constant learning. The key is being patient and, as years go by, you evolve
little by little.
Do you think about the people you’ve
photographed and their lives when you
look back?
Of course! A few years ago I went to Sri
Lanka, before the terrible tsunami. Now,
when I see the pictures of those people
and, especially, the smiling children on the
beaches of Sri Lanka, I can’t help but wonder what happened to them.
Is there some type of photography that
you haven’t experimented with yet?
Social photography is a field I haven’t wanted to explore further out of respect for the
person. I’m not a journalist and, for this reason, I don’t feel comfortable taking pictures
of people that you know are suffering. The
truth is that, with photography, you do become committed, so much so, that sometimes it’s hard to draw the line; however, in
these cases, I’ve always had it clear that you
have to maintain a respect for human pain.
Montse is creating her own web page.
Though it’s still not finished, you can check it
out… and continue enjoying her work!:
www.montserratjose.com
Mila Miras
Parallel lives
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12
Cyan salon
The pleasure is all yours
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Chilean Treat
For this issue, we asked our colleague, Joyce, to share a typical dish
with us from her country, Chile
Joyce Borniard, secretary in the
Department of Human Resource
Management, was born in Chile
and encourages us to prepare
one of her favourite desserts. It
is sweet and traditional, though it
isn’t what you would probably consider a dessert, but rather a type
of “pasta” prepared in her country
and called “calzones rotos” (broken loops) due to its shape: rectangular with a cut in the middle
through which one of the ends is
introduced giving it the look of a
“bow.”
Before indulging in this sweet
read, however, a little bit of Chilean dessert history.
In the 17th century, Chilean nuns gave a big boost to desserts in
their country. Not in vain, even to this day the expression “made by
nuns’ hands” is still used in Chile to refer to tasty desserts.
It was a prodigal time for desserts, like never before. The nuns
used dough and almonds to make the most delicate treats imitating
natural fruits, silverware, glasses, and even napkins. These imitations
were known as “contrahechos” (literally, “counterfeits”) and got to be
so perfect that they oftentimes managed to fool observers.
From the nuns’ hands and the Spanish Judeo-Moorish influence,
many desserts were created: dulces de alfajor, el manjar blanco (similar to the Argentine dulce de leche), el huevo mol, la aloja de piña or la
aloja de papaya, compotes and autochthonous fruits in syrup, without
obviating fruit fritters, such as buñuelos and picarones and, of course,
the dish our colleague Joyce is presenting: calzones rotos.
I hope you like it because... the pleasure is yours.
Calzones rotos
Ingredients:
3 cups sifted flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ cup sifted powdered sugar
2 spoons softened butter
Pinch of salt
1 egg, beaten
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon of grated lemon rind
2-4 spoons water
Oil for frying
Powdered sugar
Mix the flour, baking powder, powdered sugar, salt, and eggs.
Incorporate the butter and mix well. Add enough water to make a
batter that can be kneaded. Knead the dough until smooth.
Using a rolling pin, extend the dough on a floured surface
until 3 mm thick. Cut into 10 by 5 cm rectangles. Make a 3 cm
vertical cut in these and thread one end of the rectangle through
this hole.
Heat the oil to 175°C. Fry the calzones rotos for 1 minute
on one side and 30 seconds on the other. Strain and place on a
plate lined with absorbent paper and then sprinkle with powdered
sugar.
Note: They should not be fried until too golden. If they are
overcooked, they may harden.
Adela Nebot.
Disc: Welcome Interstate Managers
Fountains of Wayne
Virgin Records, 2003
The New York group known as Fountains of Wayne is still fairly obscure in Europe though by now quite famous in the United States. “Welcome Interstate Managers”
is their third CD, a well-rounded piece of work and a perfect antidote against the blues. This is true both for its lyrics, which switch between a description of daily
routines, the absurdities of modern life and surrealist stories of sacked pilots or exploding mobile phones, and for its music: up-beat power pop, melodic ‘guitar’
rhythms, with echoes of The Beach Boys, The Byrds, The Beatles and ‘60s pop music in general.
Tracks like “Mexican Wine”, “Stacy’s Mom”, “Bright Future in Sales”, “Little Red Light”, or “Hey Julie” are perfect for getting your day started off on the right foot. Others like “Supercollider”, which sounds like it could have been put together by Oasis, or delightful ballads such as “Hackenshack”, “Valley Winter Song” or “Yours and
Mine” and, even, “Hung Up on You”, a superb country track with the requisite honky tonk piano and steel guitar, that sound straight out of Nashville.
A really great CD that transmits loads of ‘good vibes’, ideal for the summer, and which is an invitation to live life, as they themselves put it:
The sun still shines in the summer time
I’ll be yours if you’ll be mine
I tried to change but I changed my mind
Think I’ll have another glass of Mexican wine.
Happy summer holidays.
Josep M Contijoch
Cyan salon
13
The cafeteria
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Brown at ESADE in July
Yes, it’s true, more than true,
sure, very sure. Brown will be
the guest star at ESADE in the
month of July. Despite all appearances, it’s not a prelude
to the celebrations for our
50th anniversary, nor is it one
of those rumours which circulate on Radio Hallway, a 24/7
radio station which can be
heard in any corner of ESADE
and with an estimated listening
audience which would make
the traditional stations shiver.
The news had been floating
in the air for some time and
would inevitably have to be
confirmed. This happened
precisely on Monday, July 2,
when the much-awaited-for
confirmation finally came: in
July, the Brownian movement
would take over our particles
(“elementary,” as the famous
writer would say).
Brown’s arrival, Robert, not
Gordon Brown, occurs every
year in the hot month of July,
and his arrival can be detected by the feverish activity of
every particle which makes
up the departments, services,
directorships,
sub-directorships, dean’s offices, vice
dean’s, committees, Haddock
committees, claustrophobic
assemblies, task-forces, and
other tasks without forces.
According to physicists,
Brownian Movements, discovered over two centuries
ago by Robert Brown, are random movements which affect
small-sized material particles.
Several discreet detectors
placed in strategic buildings
containing these particles,
that is Building 1, 2, 3,…n,
and other “spaces” succeeded in proving the acceleration
theory regarding these movements in the month of July. A
special delegation of researchers in inter-nautical space registered an increase of 55.4%
in digital exchanges. The caf-
eteria, neurological
centre of Esadian
thought,
saw
how its occupancy
rate
increased by
up to 75%.
The
same
observers in
the Research
Committee
have
put
several theories forward to
explain this summer storm. Various
lines of research have
been opened; among these
are: the proximity of holidays,
evaluations, planning and
work load, preparing for the
next season, and a mimetic
effect.
Given the breadth of the
research implied, a research
group has been formed and
has announced that it will
search for and recruit col-
Births ...
laborators to draw its conclusions before Brown’s arrival
next July.
The first line of research
will be to confirm Brown’s
observation: the most important particles do not visibly
take part in this Brownian
movement. Curious, don’t you
think?
J. Mª Álvarez de Lara
(Baby) boom! With this issue, we’d like to give a warm
welcome to Alejandra (Santiago Minguez), María (Maiteder
Bastero), Claudio (Michele Quintano), Bernat (Anna Donés),
Noa (Sílvia Muñoz), Manuel (Elia Marzal), Pau (Anna Salom),
And coming soon… Luisa Alemany, Elisabeth Guasch, Isabel Rallo, Mónica Casabayó and Elena Bou.
14
Plural thinking
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INTERVIEW WITH FRANCESC AND VANESSA
“A disabled person is integrated
see his disability as something
We sat down for a nice chat with Francesc Blanco of the Registrar’s
Office and Vanessa Sánchez of Information, ESADE-Executive Language
Center. We had a great time talking to them throughout the interview.
They showed a very positive attitude and shared their vision of ESADE
and of life in general.
Let’s start with your workday at ESADE. What’s
your average day like?
F:I work in the Registrar’s Office from 12.30 to 9.00
pm. I help students and faculty at the service window.
I handle registration for the MSc Programmes (also
known as the Bologna Masters), the language programmes, the Law degrees and the CEMS Master.
I start my day by braving the Ronda de Dalt, but
when I get to ESADE I have a parking space in Building
3. I’m very grateful for that. My drive takes about 10
minutes, but you have to add to that the time it takes
me to get out of the car with my wheelchair - another
10 minutes or so.
V:I work from 2.30 to 8.30 pm in Building 3. I provide customer service and information about Spanish
and English courses. It’s an enriching job and it makes
me feel fulfilled.
I come from Alella and I park in a disabled space in
Building 3, just like Francesc.
What do you see at ESADE? How do you feel
here?
F:I see integration, which I define as normality. That
is, a disabled person is integrated when the people
around him see his disability as something normal.
There are disabilities of many kinds: physical, organic,
etc. In my case, it’s quite obvious. I get around in
a wheelchair, and people at ESADE don’t see it as
something strange or abnormal. Pity, in my case, is
something I have not experienced.
Overall, the people at ESADE are very sensitive. I
find that disability is an excellent sensor - a barometer
for measuring a society’s level of education and civicmindedness.
V: I find that my co-workers are always attentive to
my needs. If I have a problem, they are always there
to lend a hand. This improves the quality of the workplace. I don’t have to be anxious about asking for help
out of fear for what people might say. This makes me
feel more sure of myself, more valued, more useful. I
feel like I do a job. I have responsibilities here. No one
is indispensable, I know this, but knowing that I have a
job to do is enriching in many ways.
What is your social life at ESADE like?
V: My first contact with ESADE was through an English
course. The first friend I made was Isabel Rexach from
Reception. I wasn’t able to pursue higher education
due to mobility problems, so these language courses
“When you see Vanessa for the first
time, with that sweet and fresh look
about her, you’re overcome by a
feeling of tenderness and empathy
towards her and you feel like helping
her sincerely and unselfishly. But after
you’ve spent some time working with
her, you realise that she is the one
helping you in every possible way. She
has become a top-notch worker and
colleague and an example for all of
us. Thank you.”
J. A. Mengual, Executive Language
Center
significantly improved my future prospects. And now I
work here, which for me was unimaginable.
My experience with ESADE has been positive from
the very beginning. I worked towards a goal and I
achieved it. The support of my co-workers has helped
me come this far, and that makes me very happy.
Sometimes I’m very tired when I get home, but I don’t
really care. I’d have to feel really awful to call and say
‘I can’t make it tomorrow’.
F: This might seem like an exaggeration, but for me
it’s a privilege to work at ESADE. You don’t know how
many times ESADE directors have asked me about
the obstacles I encounter, about how I see ESADE,
about its accessibility. When you don’t have a disability, of course, you aren’t aware of the obstacles.
F: The Registrar’s Office has made a major effort
to make everything accessible. For example, the filing
cabinets have been lowered so I can reach them. We
can’t change everything, obviously. If there is something I can’t reach, well, then I can’t reach it. But that
doesn’t bother me.
Speaking of architectural obstacles, how do
you see the ESADE facilities?
F: If there’s anything I don’t like, it’s probably the main
doors of the Pedralbes entrance. They are very heavy,
and there are three obstacles in a row. I can open
them because I have an electric chair, which is quite
strong. I have a few tricks. And if I need to, I can
always use the entrance on Cavallers. Still, ESADE is
quite good overall in terms of obstacles.
V: I work in Building 3, and I really can’t complain
about the architectural obstacles there. I enter through
the revolving door. And if the revolving door breaks
down, I can always ask a co-worker or someone else
to hold the door open.
But without meaning to, sometimes we might,
say, leave a box in your way on the floor...
F: There are a lot of us in the department and we
work long hours, so of course things like that can
happen. But since my situation is one of complete
normality and acceptance of disability, something like
that would not be a big deal. Situations like that can
be resolved with a good sense of humour.
V: One thing I value highly is the fact that I’ve been
entrusted with dealing with the public. Let’s face it:
the image of the department and of ESADE is in my
hands. ESADE doesn’t just hire disabled people to
meet a quota, the way other companies do. Instead,
you are given a job in spite of your disability, and if you
are called upon to represent your department, then
that’s what you do. I’ve worked at several companies,
and this is the first time I’ve been asked to deal with
the public.
F: The attitude of my co-workers - and I’m sure Vanessa would agree with me - couldn’t be better. The
Plural thinking
15
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when the people around him
normal”
company is very attentive to us, so we have the obligation to offer ideas for improvement. I could give
examples of the things that have improved, such as
the punch clock, but the list is endless.
Let’s change the subject. What are your hobbies?
F: I really enjoy flying remote-control model airplanes, although I’m awful at it. I always crash my
planes. And I know people always say this, but I love
music, specifically heavy metal. And reading.
We’ve heard a rumour that you’re a Real Madrid fan...
F: I know that this will make me an outcast at ESADE, but yes, I am indeed a Real Madrid fan.
V: I don’t actually have many hobbies. My main
hobby is living my everyday life, enjoying the world
around me, my family, my boyfriend, and my dog,
who is such a darling. In short, I just try to make
every day better than the last. That’s my goal and
my main hobby. Since I can’t play any sports, for
example, I try to look at things another way.
Let’s talk about the word ‘handicapped’. Can
we say this any other way? Do you think this
is a word that shouldn’t be used?
F: I hardly ever use that word. We need language to
interact with the world around us, but words have
connotations. As we have advanced as a society,
the words we use to define people with disabilities
have also changed. I don’t identify with the word
‘handicapped’. Instead, I would tell you that I am a
‘disabled’ person with ‘reduced mobility’, which is
what they say now. I know it’s a mouthful, but the
phrase I like best is ‘person with a disability’.
V: Nowadays, I don’t care about words so much as
the definitions that people use. I’m disabled. I can’t
hide that. Everyone can see it. But people without
disabilities also lack many things, so I feel like that
makes up for it in a way. Nobody’s perfect.
Let’s talk about your personal lives. Are either
of you in a relationship? What do you do in
your free time? What about your friends?
F: I’m the typical ‘thirty-something’ who still lives
with his parents. I know it’s not politically correct
to say it, but it’s true. I live with my parents, my
brother and my sister. I’m the middle sibling, always
in the middle. I don’t have a girlfriend right now, but
I do have friends. We meet to go to the movies, to
the pool, etc. In this sense, my life is quite normal.
I have a lot of freedom, especially since I got my
adapted car.
V: I’ve been in a relationship for the past year and
a half. I’m very happy. My boyfriend is not disabled,
which makes me feel... I don’t know how to say this
in a way that will be understood, but it makes me
forget my disability. My friends are great. Ever since
I was little, they’ve helped me to integrate. If had to
get up a flight of stairs to see a concert, they would
help me. My friends and acquaintances have never
ostracised me or pushed me away. My friends and
family are an important source of support.
What are your plans for this summer holiday?
F: I’m considering several options, but I really don’t
know what I’ll do. One option is to go to Jerusalem
with my brother. I always travel with him. Last year
we went to Egypt. It was a great experience, but
very tough. Visiting Egypt in a wheelchair is crazy,
because the country is so beautiful but at the same
time so inaccessible. As always, you have to have
a sense of humour. If there is a flight of stairs, then
the group helps you get up them. You just try to
have a good time.
The other option is Tenerife, which is looking
more likely at the moment.
V: I don’t plan to go anywhere. I’ll spend a few
days in my hometown of Pau, in Girona province.
It’s a lovely town. I often go there on holiday. Now
there are a lot of tourists, but I want to enjoy my
village, too! This year I want a mellow holiday with
my family.
What are your plans for the future?
F: I don’t want to come across as unambitious, but
my goal is just to continue as I have: improving,
advancing and taking on new responsibilities. That’s
my plan: to continue along this path without getting
“If you asked me what I thought
about Francesc, I’d have to remember the first impressions I had when I
met him: a prudent person, someone
with an incredible capacity for work,
and a sharp sense of humour. I came
to realise that these qualities turned
the wheels on his chair into a 4X4’s,
easily overcoming daily obstacles
with strength and security. He makes
it easy for the rest of his colleagues
in the Department to forgive him his
football affiliation and his “questionable” taste in films.”
Miquel Izquierdo, Registrar’s Office
derailed. At ESADE, I think I will have the chance to
keep advancing.
V: My goal is to keep my job and try to do it as
well as I can. I would like to advance, not in the
sense of getting a new job, but rather by improving
the quality of my work and taking on new responsibilities.
In my personal life, someday I’d like to start a
family and live like everyone else, trying to combine
work, children and marriage. Right now I live with
my boyfriend at my parents’ house. We decided to
do it this way. I’m an only child, and I don’t want to
leave my parents. I am so grateful to them. I get
emotional when I talk about this. I want to be with
my family. I don’t want time to slip away.
Tell us about your dreams or wishes.
F: My goal, my dream... This may seem like more of
the same, but when you find a situation in which are
happy and content, taking into account all the challenges that peoples with disabilities face... I don’t
want it to sound like our lives revolve around our
disabilities, but it’s true that it affects all aspects of
our lives. My goal is to remain content in my family,
my job and my relationships. I just want to stay in a
situation that I enjoy and that makes me happy.
If I had to make a wish... I don’t know... the
tenth European Cup for Real Madrid?
V: I’m happy and stable, but I’m also aware of everything I have. My dream is for a medical discovery
or innovation that could help me get better.
16
The portrait
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Seamus Haughey, language teacher of 31 years, needs no introduction.
Just read the interview
How long did you work at ESADE?
Thirty-one years, more or less.
What was your job like (department, duties,
important projects, etc.)?
Ninety percent of my time at the school was spent
teaching English at the chalkface. During two different periods, I also sat on the management committee of the Executive Language Center (ELC). But
perhaps the thing I liked best in all my years at the
school were the courses I worked on through the
Department of Social Sciences, first as a lecturer
of an ethics course, and later as a tutor for two
MBA courses. This collaboration began in 1992 and
ended the month I retired (September 2006). I will
be eternally grateful to the two Joseps (Professors
Miralles and Lozano) for placing their trust in me, and
also to Lluís Pugés and Joan Roig, for not suffering
from ‘titulitis’ - which is a global disease, although
my Spanish friends assured me it was pandemic in
Spain. (Now, of course, due to its radical internationalisation, ESADE Business School requires that all of
its lecturers hold a PhD.)
What were you thinking on your way to work
your first day at ESADE?
I know I had the optimism and enthusiasm of a (relatively) young person, but I don’t remember my actual
thoughts!
Do you remember your co-workers? And your
bosses?
I remember my former co-workers very well - and
very often. However, my fear of living in the past is
so great that I have decided to let a full year pass
before getting back in touch with any of them. (A bit
harsh, I know.)
None of my bosses were anything like autocratic.
Pat Mills, my boss of a quarter century, had a very Australian affection for flat pyramids and straight talk.
In your opinion, what has changed the most
about ESADE since then?
Without a doubt, the culture of the school. In my
early years, it had what Charles Handy would call a
club culture: everyone who worked here knew each
other. Now - and you’ll forgive me if I’ve forgotten
the taxonomy of organisational cultures - it has an
achievement culture: ‘What can I do for the school
and for myself at the same time?’ The change was
necessary and positive, although we lost that feeling
that we were a ‘family’.
What was the funniest thing that happened to
you while you worked here?
Now that I’ve mentioned Charles Handy, I recall an incident involving him. It was more personal than workrelated (and more embarrassing than funny!), but it
took place at ESADE. He gave a lecture here in April
1999. Afterwards, I went up to him, shook his hand
and said: ‘I’m sure your father is very proud of you.’
At that time, Handy was, I think, 69 years old! Lord
knows he must have thought: ‘What a strange staff
this business school has!’
Tell us about your last day at ESADE.
I was on autopilot. Plus, since it was late September,
there was hardly anyone at school.
What is your favourite memory from your time
at ESADE? And your least favourite?
I have always been impressed by my co-workers’
client-focused attitude, which was even more prominent among the support staff than among the faculty
(if that’s possible!). They displayed a very ethical attitude, without making a big show of it.
The most stressful thing - and also the most stimulating - was the constant series of deadlines, especially during exams.
What are you going to do next?
Writing is still a dream, not a reality, but I’m not giving
up just yet. In Verges, where I live, I am an alternate
for the political party that won the recent election.
What would you like to say to your former coworkers at ESADE?
Carpe diem, and know that it is a privilege to work at
a place like ESADE.
Quick qutions
1. What colour do you wear every day?
I have lots of obsessions, but none like that.
2. What movie or play would you like to have starred in?
Some time ago I saw a play about my alter ego: a prince - if I’m not
mistaken - of Denmark. No, seriously. Any Bergman film.
3. What song do you wish you had composed (and sung)?
Ode to Joy, but because of its beauty, not because it is European.
4. If you could be someone else, who would you be?
Aristotle.
5. What book do you wish you had written?
Insight, by Bernard Lonergan.
6. In what city or town would you like to get lost?
Siena.
7. What is the place you most identify with?
L’Empordanet.