IESE and Vallformosa Foundation Launch the Vallformosa Foundation Chair of Business and Social Transformation

IESE Business School and Vallformosa Foundation have announced the creation of the Vallformosa Foundation Chair of Business and Social Transformation, an initiative aimed at advancing research in areas that are critical to local transformation and the sustainable development of rural communities.

The chair will be led by Professor Luis Palencia, Professor of Accounting and Control at IESE. An IESE MBA graduate and holder of a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, Palencia has developed most of his academic career at the school, where he has held several leadership positions and promoted initiatives focused on the development of organizations with social impact.

The new chair will focus on studying how territorial and corporate governance can adapt to increasingly important challenges facing organizations and society, including climate change, generational succession and the adoption of new technologies.

Its goal is to generate knowledge that contributes to the business and social transformation of local areas by fostering sustainable development models that strengthen economic prosperity, social cohesion and the adaptability of rural communities. Through its research activities, the chair will help identify best practices and governance frameworks capable of addressing the challenges affecting rural development and society as a whole.

The chair has been made possible thanks to the commitment and support of Josep Graells, President of Vallformosa Foundation and an IESE alumnus (PADE-07), whose longstanding connection with the school has helped bring this initiative to life.

Academic chairs are a fundamental instrument for advancing IESE’s mission. Through the support of companies, foundations and institutions committed to knowledge creation, they foster long-term research projects, the development of teaching materials and dialogue between academia, business and society.

With the launch of the Vallformosa Foundation Chair of Business and Social Transformation, IESE continues to strengthen its research ecosystem, which today includes 12 research centers and 26 academic chairs, while reinforcing its commitment to generating rigorous and relevant knowledge that contributes to a deep, positive and lasting impact on people, organizations and society.

About Vallformosa Foundation

Vallformosa Foundation works to promote initiatives that contribute to sustainable social and territorial development. Through projects focused on creating opportunities, fostering social cohesion and strengthening rural communities, the foundation encourages collaboration among companies, institutions, and local stakeholders to generate a positive and lasting impact on society.