Álvaro José Méndez López

Álvaro's career is marked by three decades of simultaneous engagement in Advanced Analytics within the corporate sector and as an educator in higher education. His professional experience was developed in organizations such as Coca-Cola, SPSS (Uk and Spain), and IBM, with different roles. In latest years he co-founded an Advanced Analytics and Market Research company, which develops and implements customized advanced analytical solutions.

A major part of his career involves teaching with thirty years dedicated to deliver training in various quantitative subjects, including Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Econometrics, Statistics, BI, Data Visualization, and Python. These courses have been delivered across both private and public institutions. Since 2013, he has been an Associate Professor at IE, having also served as the academic co-Director for the Master in Big Data program. His involvement in academic leadership extends internationally through his role as Academic Director of Analytical Executive Education at TEK in the Middle East and Costa Rica.

 Álvaro holds a PhD in Econometrics and Quantitative Analysis from UAM, Madrid, Spain. His doctoral research explored Feature Selection on Epigenetic Data for Alzheimer's disease. Previously he researched the application of Neural Networks to the finance industry. He also holds a Microsoft Certified Solution Developer title obtained in London. 

 Álvaro's personal interests include music, for which it holds a bachelor’s in music (with a specialization in piano), and oriental medicine (he obtained the Shiatsu-Zen Therapist Practitioner diploma).

CORPORATE EXPERIENCE

• Co-Founder of Advanced Analytics and Market Research company, Spain, 2018-present 

• Analytics Engagement Manager, IBM, Spain, 2010-2018

• SPSS, Service Engagement Manager, Spain, 2009-2010

• SPSS, Senior Consultant, Spain, 2004-2009

• SPSS, Technical Consultant, London, UK, 2000-2004

• Coca-Cola, Market Analyst, Madrid, Spain, 1995-1999

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

• Adjunct Professor - Machine Learning and Data Analysis, IE University, Spain, 2013-present

• Associate Professor - Econometrics and Business Information Technology, several degrees and masters, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain, 2005-present

• Academic Director - Data Driven Organizations Executive Education, Costa Rica & Middle East, 2019-present

• External Statistics coacher, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, 2010-2015

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

• PhD Cum-Laude in Econometrics and Quantitative Analysis from UAM, Spain, 2024

• Professional music diploma with a specialization in piano, Katarina Gurska - School of music, Spain, 2018

• Shiatsu-Zen Therapist Practitioner diploma, Spain, 2014

• Advanced studies in Econometrics, from UAM, Spain, 2010

• Microsoft Certified Solution Developer, London, 2002

• Bachelor’s in business administration (Econometrics), UAM, Spain, 1993