Antonio Quijano
I am a branding, marketing and advertising professional with more than 20 years of experience helping companies grow through strategy and insight. Throughout my career, I have worked as a Strategic Planning Director and Branding Consultant in leading Spanish agencies, where I developed a strong interdisciplinary approach to managing intangible aspects such as image, reputation and brand perception. I believe these “soft” elements are often the key drivers behind a company’s real success.
My work is grounded in a deep understanding of how organisations operate, the challenges they face today and the decisions that can ultimately determine their trajectory. Alongside my professional career, I have built a solid academic path: I teach strategic planning and branding at institutions such as IE University, and I am the author of an online course as well as co-author of a Marketing Dictionary.
In the classroom, I aim to create a dynamic and engaging environment, bringing real-world experience into every session and focusing on practical, hands-on learning.
"If you enjoy what you do, and you have the curiosity to learn every day and the courage to step out of your comfort zone before routine kills your energy, then you will do great things and find happiness."
Antonio Quijano: Treating work as a passion, not a job
Antonio has been working in the world of branding and communication his entire life. His expertise was developed in his time with different agencies and clients covering all the communication disciplines—public relations, advertising, branding, consultancy and digital marketing. As communication is key for his professional path, Antonio learned to speak four languages and can get by in two more. These skills help Antonio thrive in internationally oriented workspaces with multinational clients or employers, diverse teams, or on complex campaigns and projects. With such extensive experience, Antonio has become familiar with how businesses are built and run in various contexts, and this shows through in his teaching at IE University.
Antonio’s career started in the early 90s, when he began working for a universal event called “Expo ‘92,” designed to position Spain as a dynamic country. His job was to promote the event to journalists from 15 different countries. A few years later, Antonio took on the same role for Spain’s first big theme park, Port Aventura. He remembers those years fondly—especially the roller coasters.
As a man of many talents, Antonio was a frequent contributor to one of Spain’s leading newspapers, writing a column on showbiz which ignited his passion for cinema and the myths behind it. Later on, as he began working in small branding consultancies and advertising agencies, he gained first-hand insights into what entrepreneurship truly means, another valuable skill showcased in his current role as a professor.
Nowadays you can find Antonio working as a freelance communication strategy consultant and as a professor at IE University. He continues to take on new responsibilities for IE University, including five different undergraduate courses centered around interconnected themes of business management, entrepreneurship, innovation, branding and communication.
The world of education wasn’t something new to Antonio when he started teaching for IE University, having previously collaborated with a team to write a Marketing Dictionary. But this first incursion into higher education came at the perfect moment as he was on the lookout for a new professional challenge. Antonio was struck by the energy and international vibe that IE University has to offer and fondly compares it to love at first sight.
The original challenge posed by teaching pushed Antonio out of his comfort zone, while also allowing him to meet new friends and interact with a lot of talented and motivated students. He claims to learn more from his students than they do from him, especially because their energy and curiosity motivate him to stay up to date. Striving to keep students interested and enthusiastic, Antonio does not see routine as an option. He believes that if he wants students to love what he teaches them—and he will not settle for less—then he needs to transmit not only the knowledge, but also the passion.
IE University serves as an incredibly hands-on place in Antonio’s opinion, noting that everything taught has an obvious practical application in the future professional life of the students. In keeping with this, Antonio seeks to make his courses as practical as possible, especially since his personal mantra is learn by doing. He hopes that his courses will inspire his students to start their own businesses or apply for jobs they had not previously considered.
Antonio believes the keys to success are simple: Work hard and love what you do. In this way, it won’t feel like work. Be generous to others and watch this generosity come back to you in the most unexpected ways. Don’t be afraid of change and never lose your curiosity.
Check out in detail Antonio Quijano's academic and corporate experience
Check out in detail Antonio Quijano's academic and corporate experience
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE Global BACHELOR IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM?
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE Global BACHELOR IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM?