IE Alumni Weekend London: “The Art of Disruption”
13th /14th November, 2015
IE proudly presents the Alumni Weekend London organized with great care to bring together our alumni from UK, Europe and indeed worldwide, to reconnect, reminisce, learn and network in a unique setting: the iconic Old Vaults at Billingsgate, overlooking the River Thames and London’s spectacular monuments.

As Madeleine Albright said in a 2014 interview with CBS news, “To put it mildly, the world is a mess”. This sentiment, that the world is a bit of a “crazy place”, that we are living in peculiar and exciting times, is echoed by many and experienced first-hand by even more. Perhaps even by you? This is why this alumni weekend is themed around “The Art of Disruption.”
What we are offering you is a highly interactive and fast-paced conference is an opportunity to take stock of changes that go on around us, a chance to put things into perspective, both for yourself and for your organization. It is an exploration where you will discuss, reflect and learn from experts, people who have "been there" and "done that", as well as from your fellow IE alumni.
The overall objective of this alumni event is to enable the participants to become more “disruption savvy”. This is particularly important in an environment where most of us are so busy paying attention to what is urgent right now that we seldom have the time to consider the long-term perspective and the deeper implications of changes around us. This conference will therefore invite you to investigate, to hold up a mirror to yourself, your career, and your company thereby increasing the likelihood that you will be able to ride the wave of disruption with more skill and more success.
Throughout the Alumni Weekend you will meet individuals who are at the leading edge of disruption. You will also have the chance to learn from persons who were on the other side of the disruption, people who worked in careers that suddenly got disrupted through changes in business models and technologies. These people might on the stage in front of you, or they could be sitting in the seat next to you.
Please come with a curious mind, be ready to discuss, and be ready to learn.
- WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE -
Friday night Exclusive Welcome Cocktail Reception at HISPANIA Restaurant dress code: smart casual
Saturday full day event including: Lunch, Evening Supper/Drinks and Closing Party dress code: business casual
Exclusive Hotel discounts in the city of London (13th & 14th Nov.)
See FAQs above for more details*
- AGENDA -
“The Art of Disruption” – 13th/14th November 2015
Friday, 13 November
Alumni Welcome Reception, HISPANIA Restaurant 19.00pm - 22.30pm
72-74 Lombard St, London EC3V 9AY, United Kingdom
Saturday, 14 November
"The Art of Disruption"
1 Old Billingsgate Walk, London EC3R 6DX, United Kingdom
10:30 – 11:00
Arrival & Registration
11:00 – 11:10
Opening & Introduction
Santiago Íñiguez de Onzoño, Dean of IE Business School and President of IE University
Björn Atterstam, Facilitator, Speaker, Advisor, Futurist
Julia Sanchez, Head of Global Alumni Relations
11:10 – 11:30
What is Disruption?
Robert Rowland Smith, philosopher, business advisor, author of “Breakfast with Socrates”
11:30 – 11:40
Discussion
11:40 – 12:20
Global Disruptions
Ian Goldin, Former VP the World Bank, nominated Global Leader of Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum
12:20 – 12:40
A European Perspective
Miriam González Durántez , IE International Advisory Board Member, Partner Dechert LLP
12:40 – 13:45
Disruption Q&A, followed by lunch
13:45 – 14:30
The Art of Disruption I - The Entrepreneurs
Bernhard Niesner, IE Alumnus, Co-founder & CEO, Busuu
Rish Mitra, Co-founder & CEO, Blipper
Emma Sinclair, Serial Entrepreneur, Telegraph Columnist, UNICEF UK´s first Business Mentor
14:30 – 14:45
Breaking the Rules of Business
Roger Mavity, Author of ‘The Rule Breaker’s Guide to Business”,
Former CEO of The Conran Group & The Granada Group
14:45 – 15:20
The Art of Disruption II - The Change Agents
Daniela Menzky, Director at Waterbridge Capital
Coca Rivas, IE Alumnus, Head of Digital Capability UK Ministry of Justice
John Ridpath, Head of Product at Decoded
Roger Mavity, Author of ‘The Rule Breaker’s Guide to Business”
16:00 – 16:15
Frontline of Disruption
Michael Callas, Chief Executive & Founder at East London Ventures
16:15 – 16:30
Personal Disruption
Dr Edwina Thompson, Director at Beechwood International
16:30 – 17:00
Opportunities in Disruption
Steven D'Souza, IE professor, Head of Programmes at FT IE Corporate Learning Alliance and Author of "Not Knowing" (Chartered Management Institute’s Management and Leadership Book of the Year 2015)
17:00 – 17:45
Careers & Disruption
Executive Headhunter Panel
Lucie Shaw, Head of Consumer at Amrop UK
Alexa Bailey, Manager at CEO & Board Practice
Sarah Magnell, Partner at Saxton Bampfylde
The Alternative Career Path
Rob Symington, Founder of Escape the City
Eiso Kant, IE Alumnus, Founder of Tyba
17:45 – 18:00
Final Reflections, Bjorn Atterstam
18:00 – 18:05
Closing Words, IE
18:05 – midnight
Drinks, Dinner, DJ & Dancing
Directions between the two venues: http://citymapper.com/trip/Tktvaav
“IE takes photographs during its meetings and events for use in advertising, newsletters, and other promotional materials, whether in print, electronic, or other media. By participating in this conference you grant ASTC the right to use your name and photograph for such purposes.”
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