14/06/2023
The IE Community enjoys a one-of-a-kind tech forum promoting innovation and tackling emerging issues in cybersecurity, digital literacy, fintech and entrepreneurship.
IE University continues to stay at the forefront of the tech revolution with unique initiatives that promote collaboration, innovation and networking with professionals from the real world of work. Recently, students led the sixth edition of the TechIE Conference, one of the biggest annual tech forums in the region.
The premier event was organized by the TechIE Think Tank, IE University’s flagship tech-focused think tank. Pedro Olivares Sáinz is the co-president of the brain trust with Dyanna Monique Rivera and a final-year student of the Dual Degree International MBA + Master in Business Analytics & Big Data. Pedro and Dyanna are also supported by Bachelor in Data and Business Analytics student, Joana Rocha, and Bachelor in Business Administration student, Gagi Eristya, who form the rest of the TechIE team. The two also serve as part of the TechIE Think Tank Team, where Joana is Head of Partnerships and Gagi holds the position of Head of Marketing. Pedro highlights that TechIE team’s mission is “to develop and sustain a global community of leaders committed to engaging in concrete actions that promote innovation and technology development for a better, more peaceful and more sustainable future.” It’s also a major platform for networking, connecting students with leading professionals working in some of today’s big-name tech companies.
We caught up with Pedro to get a snapshot of the conference from behind the scenes, as well as gain his insights into why such events spark personal and professional growth.
Organizing the 2023 conference
The TechIE Think Tank is an entirely student-led organization shaking up the innovation scene at the university. “It’s an incredible team [bringing together] top-tier talent from undergraduate and graduate students already leading in technology activities,” Pedro explains. Its core activity is organizing the TechIE Conference, which is held at IE Tower every year. However, the think tank also works to promote initiatives spearheaded by various tech-related clubs at the university, foster the exploration of virtual reality technologies and experiences, and establish a global network of technology leaders, disruptors and industry professionals.
As one of its top leaders, Pedro played a pivotal role in organizing and hosting the TechIE Conference 2023. Held over two days, the event adopted a “hybrid panel format,” which included different forums discussing relevant emerging topics in the tech arena. “We had four hybrid connections in four different countries simultaneously participating in the live panels,” notes Pedro. They also utilized 120 live assistants and 210 online assistants throughout the conference. “TechIE Conference was a real success for TechIE Think Tank,” he says.
However, much of it was made possible with the participation of several other student associations.
According to Pedro, “TechIE’s objective is to develop strong collaboration channels among all IE University clubs.”
This year, this spirit of cooperation led to the IE Fintech Club organizing the fintech panel at the conference; others, including the IE Robotics & AI Club, the Technology + Innovation Club and the Google Developer Student Club, also contributed to this achievement in various invaluable ways.
Key takeaways from the conference
This year’s edition of the TechIE Conference brought together over 330 students, 20 leading companies and several top professionals, recruiters and thought leaders from the business and technology worlds. It was a time of learning and enrichment, finding innovative solutions to various emerging challenges in cybersecurity, digital literacy and tech entrepreneurship.
For Pedro, he gained new insights into various areas that are relevant to his professional future. He shared one of his important realizations: “Cybersecurity needs are unlikely to disappear in an increasingly interconnected digital world. This is especially true as more organizations begin to embrace its importance, boosting the demand for stronger security measures, regular risk assessments and more up-to-date information on the latest threats. “Cybersecurity is a collective effort,” he adds.
“Collaboration between industry, government agency and security experts, and the generation of best practices and threat intelligence, is the way.”
He also learned to see digital literacy as an ongoing process, “It is crucial for today’s labor force and all employees to embrace a mindset of continuous learning and adapt to evolving technologies and digital tools.” For him, digital literacy is closely intertwined with digital transformation, “enabling efficient workflows, enhanced customer experiences and innovation.”
On the other hand, successful entrepreneurial effort relies on leaders who are resilient and comfortable with taking strategic risks. “Entrepreneurs must be innovative, continuously exploring new ideas, products and business models,” Pedro explains. This way, they can foster a culture of innovation and collaboration which will open the doors for valuable insights, resources and growth opportunities. As he sees it, “It’s crucial to understand entrepreneurship as a force of sustainable environmental impact—not just economic.”
The key to growth
For Pedro, events like the TechIE Conference spark personal and professional development.
“I believe that personal growth is enhanced when actively engaging in growth opportunities.”
He says he developed competitive hard and soft skills that will serve him well in any corporate or entrepreneurial venture he pursues in the future.
That’s why he encourages other students to take part in such initiatives: “This type of event is an opportunity to make things happen, to get inspired, to be heard, to meet interesting people, to meet your next business partner or investor, and much more!”
