ESCP strengthens its Latin American presence with events in Mexico and Colombia
Inspiring connections, shared purpose and new opportunities for Latin American professionals
ESCP Business School reaffirmed its strong ties with Latin America through two inspiring events held in Bogotá and Mexico City, gathering alumni, prospective students, and strategic partners for an evening of learning, networking, and shared purpose.
Led by Javier Tafur, Dean of ESCP Business School – Madrid Campus, and Francisco Egaña, Director of Admissions and Development Madrid, the sessions featured the masterclass “Strategic Decisions Applied to Your Professional Development” by Prof. Tafur, offering key insights on how to set a clear direction, evaluate strategic options, and make confident professional decisions.
Both events also included an in-depth overview of ESCP’s admissions process and funding opportunities, with presentations from the School’s key financial partners: COLFUTURO in Colombia and FUNED in Mexico. These long-standing collaborations make it possible for talented candidates to access up to 40% scholarships for specialised master’s programmes and up to €15,000 awards for the MBA, strengthening ESCP’s mission to make world-class business education more accessible to Latin American professionals.
In Bogotá, Johanna Torres, Director of Academic Counselling and International Relations at COLFUTURO, shared insights into the foundation’s scholarship-loan model, while in Mexico City, Sofía Rodríguez Díaz, representing FUNED, outlined the available opportunities for Mexican students aspiring to study in Europe.
Our goal is to empower professionals who think internationally and act with purpose. Meeting our alumni and seeing how the ESCP spirit continues to thrive across borders gives true meaning to what we do.
Each evening concluded with a networking cocktail where guests connected with members of the ESCP Alumni community, sharing their professional journeys and reflecting on how ESCP’s international, entrepreneurial mindset has shaped their careers.
Mexico and Colombia are home to some of our most promising candidates.These events allow us to connect directly with them, share our vision of diversity, and strengthen the bridge between Latin America and Europe.
Marketing, Admissions & Development Director, Madrid Campus
In an interview done during the visit, Javier Tafur highlighted ESCP’s commitment to innovation, referencing the School’s pioneering collaboration with OpenAI, which integrates generative AI tools such as ChatGPT into academic and professional development for over 11,000 students, faculty, and researchers.
With campuses in Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Turin, and Warsaw, ESCP continues to expand its global impact and strengthen its engagement with Latin America — reaffirming education as a powerful driver of international leadership and transformation.
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ESCP Business School and Instituto Trajetórias join forces to expand access to world-class education for Brazilian talents
A new pathway connecting Brazilian talent with global education
This strategic partnership between ESCP and Instituto Trajetórias will enable promising Brazilian students to pursue top-tier master’s programmes across Europe.
ESCP Business School has announced a new partnership with Instituto Trajetórias, a Brazilian non-profit organisation supported by the Lemann Foundation and VélezReyes+, to broaden access to postgraduate education for Brazilian students.
The collaboration will offer scholarships and financing opportunities for students pursuing master’s degrees across ESCP’s six European campuses – Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Turin and Warsaw.
Through this agreement, ESCP became one of the academic partners participating in Instituto Trajetórias’ inaugural 2026 call for applications. The initiative aims to send more than 5,000 Brazilian students to study at leading international universities in ten years.
Exclusive scholarships and financing options
As part of the agreement, ESCP will offer:
- 5 places in the MBA – ranked among the top 10 in Europe by the Financial Times – with a direct tuition discount of €15,000
- 3 places in the MSc in Digital Project Management with a 40% tuition discount
- 1 place in the MSc in Hospitality & Tourism Management with a 40% tuition discount
- 1 place in the MSc in Real Estate with a 40% tuition discount
In addition, candidates will have access to financing options of up to USD 30,000, at preferential interest rates estimated between 15% and 18%, offering a highly competitive alternative in Brazil, where average student loan rates typically reach around 40%.
A shared mission for accessible, international education
This collaboration represents a meaningful step forward in our commitment to supporting talented Brazilian students in their international education journey. We are proud to partner with Instituto Trajetórias to offer world-class academic programmes that foster global leadership and sustainable development
Our mission is to unlock access to top global universities for Brazilian talents and ensure that they return prepared to contribute to Brazil’s growth and innovation. Collaborating with ESCP allows us to offer our students one of Europe’s most prestigious business schools, with a strong track record in international management education.
Empowering the next generation of global leaders
This partnership reinforces ESCP’s engagement in Latin America and its mission to educate purpose-driven leaders who shape the world through responsible and international management.
By combining Instituto Trajetórias’ commitment to widening access with ESCP’s multi-campus learning model – which enables students to study in at least two European countries – the collaboration offers Brazilian talents a truly global educational experience.
Through its learning-by-doing approach, focused on real-world projects, multicultural teamwork and strong corporate links, ESCP provides graduates with the skills and agility to thrive in international environments. Together, both institutions aim to empower the next generation of Brazilian professionals to become global leaders, driving innovation and sustainable growth both at home and abroad.
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ESCP Business School Signs Strategic Partnership with the Urban Land Institute
New collaboration strengthens industry engagement and expands professional opportunities for ESCP MSc in Real Estate students.
ESCP Business School is pleased to announce a new Academic Corporate Partnership with the Urban Land Institute (ULI), one of the world’s most influential organisations in the real estate and land-use sector. This agreement significantly enhances the professional ecosystem available to students of the MSc in Real Estate (MRE), offering privileged access to ULI’s global network of experts, events and thought-leadership activities.
“This partnership marks a milestone in our mission to connect students with the forefront of the real estate industry. Through ULI’s world-class network and events, our students will access unique learning experiences and career-driven opportunities that will meaningfully expand their professional horizons.”
"We are delighted to announce that ESCP Business School has joined ULI as a Corporate Partner. This clearly demonstrates the added value that can be created when two complementary organisations with a shared goal of supporting future leaders and decision makers in real estate through tailored education and learning work together. The partnership will see 85 selected ESCP students join as ULI members, giving them access to the ULI global network of over 48,000 industry professionals and our vast repository of research and case studies as well as specific student and Young Leader programmes for emerging talent. We see this partnership as an important contribution to advancing ULI's mission priority focused on educating the next generation of real estate leaders."
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120 students, 20 mentors, and 20 developers reimagine business through artificial intelligence
The ESCP Hackathon invited students to reimagine the customer experience through AI — and deliver tangible solutions in just one day.
Artificial intelligence is no longer a frontier technology; it is already reshaping the way companies interact with customers, make decisions, and define their strategies. For future business leaders, the key challenge is not simply understanding AI, but learning how to apply it meaningfully and responsibly to the real issues shaping today’s and tomorrow’s economy.
This is the mindset that drives ESCP Business School, which has placed AI at the heart of its educational mission. And it is the spirit behind the 2025 edition of the ESCP Hackathon, held in Turin.
After five successful years focused on sustainability, this year’s edition turned the spotlight on AI, asking participants to tackle a compelling and complex challenge:
How can we use AI to enhance the customer experience?
The response was overwhelming: all places were booked within seconds of registration opening. The event brought together:
- 120 international students from various ESCP programmes
- 20 corporate mentors from leading firms
- 20 professional developers
- 12 participating companies
- 4 tech sponsors
For one high-intensity day, students were immersed in co-creation, technical development and strategic innovation, supported at every step by senior professionals.
Visionary insights to start the day
The Hackathon opened with a welcome from Professor Alberta Di Giuli, Dean of ESCP Business School Turin, who highlighted the importance of innovation in shaping responsible business leaders.
Three keynote speeches then set the tone for the challenge ahead:
- Carlotta Reviglio, Value and Engagement Lead at OpenAI, explored how generative AI is reshaping education and access.
- Francesco Ronchi, President & CTO at Synesthesia, reflected on innovation in digital ecosystems.
- Daniel Levis, Founder & CEO of Soraia and ESCP alumnus, offered a personal take on pushing forward even when ideas are imperfect.
Driving the energy and momentum throughout the day was Adriano Sorgente, the event’s Game Master, who kept teams engaged, informed, and on track — all while making the experience unforgettable.
A full day of teamwork and collaboration
Throughout the Hackathon, participants worked in 20 multidisciplinary teams to develop AI-based solutions aimed at enhancing the customer experience. Each team was guided by a corporate mentor offering strategic insight and business framing, and supported by a professional developer who ensured technical feasibility and helped turn ideas into working prototypes.
The active involvement of a wide range of corporate event partners strengthened the initiative. Among them were AB InBev, Amplifon, Bain & Company, Danone, Facile.it, Generali, KPMG, Lazard, Nexi Group, PETRONAS, TeamSystem and U.G.A. Nutraceuticals, whose professionals shared their time, expertise and real-world challenges with the students.
In addition to corporate support, the event also benefited from the contribution of leading tech sponsors. OpenAI, Synesthesia, Soraia and OPIT – Open Institute of Technology provided advanced tools, knowledge and technical mentorship that elevated the quality and impact of the solutions developed.
Award-winning projects: AI solutions with real-world impact
The projects were evaluated by a jury composed of Carlotta Reviglio, Francesco Ronchi and Davide Silvestri, and chaired by Professor Francesca Pucciarelli.
Before the award ceremony, Professors Isabella Maggioni and Marie-Catherine Mignault, AI Coordinators at the ESCP Turin Campus, delivered closing reflections on the day. Their intervention emphasised the central role of technology, collaboration and interdisciplinary thinking in shaping the future of management education.
Based on the video submissions and overall project quality, the jury selected the most outstanding teams and invited them to present their solutions live on stage, before awarding the three prizes recognising impact, innovation and scalability.
Impact Award – Team THINKTANK
Challenge addressed: Leveraging AI to improve customer experience in healthcare-related services.
Solution: An AI-powered application designed to help users manage personal medical records and related information, making healthcare data more accessible, intuitive and empowering for everyone, particularly vulnerable users.
Team members: Luca Bagnis, Nicolò Fresia, Salma Hade, Sebastian Natali, Alessio Neumann, Lucrezia Pio
Mentor: Nicola Bottone (KPMG)
Developer: Davide Sirica
Innovation Award – Team Shareholder Value Maximisers
Challenge addressed: Improving inventory efficiency and customer order predictability.
Solution: An AI-powered interface developed in collaboration with AB InBev, designed to enhance inventory tracking, forecast customer demand and support more efficient decision-making. The team developed a full MVP, including user interface design and an operational AI-driven platform.
Team members: Mina Bodaghi, Ali Daoudi, Nam Le Tri, Erica Pellegrino, Ramatha Traore, Florian Trepetschnigg
Mentor: Carlotta Nicoli (AB InBev)
Developers: Carmelo Cutroneo, Paolo Micheletti
Scalability Award – Team PNLMakers
Challenge addressed: Making recruitment processes more efficient and accessible.
Solution: SelectifAI, a highly scalable AI tool designed to streamline recruitment by matching students and companies more effectively. The team delivered a complete end-to-end project, including concept design, functional app development and a final video presentation.
Team members: Itay Aviv, Alexandre Cayer, Joshua Czarny, Tosca Di Cara, Lucas Thai, Alex Toumasson
Mentor: Luca Aldrovandi (Generali)
Developer: Marco Fediuc
From Hackathon to professional insight: the KPMG Experience
Following the event, the winning teams of the 2025 ESCP Hackathon were invited to an exclusive visit to KPMG’s offices in Turin. During the experience, students met professionals from KPMG Italy — including Marco Perrone, Matteo Santià, Mattia Caio, Filippo Menis, Shafy Nosrallah and Stefania Manzo — who shared insights into the firm’s values, advisory services, career paths and recruitment processes.
This visit reinforced the Hackathon’s role as a bridge between academic learning and professional practice, offering students direct exposure to real-world consulting environments.
The AI edition of the ESCP Hackathon was designed and expertly coordinated by Maria Turreno and Sofia Baldissera of the ESCP Careers Centre, whose leadership ensured a seamless and engaging experience for all participants.
With AI at its core, the 6th ESCP Hackathon provided students, mentors, and partners with a unique space to learn, innovate, and shape the future of business.
It all starts here.
FAQ
What is the ESCP Hackathon?
An annual innovation challenge organised by ESCP Careers Centre where students develop solutions in collaboration with industry mentors and tech developers.
What made the 2025 edition unique?
This was the first edition focused on artificial intelligence, after five editions dedicated to sustainability. The theme centred on redesigning customer experience through AI.
How were teams evaluated?
A jury selected winners based on impact, creativity, and scalability. Only the winning teams pitched live on stage.
How does this support career development?
Students gained practical experience, exposure to recruiters, and access to real industry feedback — making it a career accelerator and learning opportunity.
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Joint STARbowl event of ESCP’s STAR Centre and ENGIE
Join us for an insightful evening co-hosted by ESCP Business School's ESCP STAR Center and ENGIE, one of Europe’s leading energy utilities companies. Together, we will explore how circular thinking is reshaping the global energy landscape and driving new pathways toward climate neutrality.
- Florence Fouquet - Group Head of ESG, ENGIE
Will present ENGIE’s ambitious climate-neutrality roadmap and the rigorous decarbonization strategy guiding the Group’s transformation - Reiner Hoffmann - Chair, German Council for Sustainable Development
Will highlight why circular economy principles are becoming essential to national and international climate goals
Deep-Dive Perspectives
- Renewable gases & biomethane
How turning waste into green energy can accelerate the energy transition.
With Eric Stab, CEO ENGIE Deutschland - Data centers as heat resources
How one of the world’s fastest-growing power consumers can drive circular value by turning excess heat into a new energy cascade.
With Katrin Fuhrmann (ENGIE Supply & Energy Management) and Dr. Severin Beucker (Borderstep Institute)
This event will take place on 12 February 2026, from 6 to 9 PM at ESCP Business School Berlin, Heubnerweg 8-10, 14059 Berlin. The participation fee is free of charge. The number of places is limited. First come, first served. The event will be held in English.
Location
Organiser: ESCP -
Berlin - Germany
MapDate
Start date: 12/02/2026
Start time: 6:00 PM
End time: 9:00 PM
An international exchange highlighting ESCP’s pioneering AI strategy and strengthening European cooperation in higher education.
On 27/28 November, ESCP welcomed a delegation of fifteen members from Kristiania University in Norway including vice deans, programme directors, faculty members, pedagogical experts and EdTech specialists. A visit of this scale speaks for itself: Kristiania came to study ESCP’s AI integration model, now recognised as one of the most advanced and structured approaches in Europe.
The delegation explored the foundations of ESCP’s trajectory: the “1000 AI Champions” initiative, the POC conducted with OpenAI, and the rollout of ChatGPT Edu to all students, professors and staff. This pioneering work has since evolved into a dedicated AI team and a clear institutional strategy designed to integrate AI in a sustainable, responsible, and scalable way.
ESCP also showcased its pedagogical transformation, including the school-wide course “GenAI in Business and in my studies,” as well as the faculty-focused version of the “1000 AI Champions” initiative presented by Pr.Louis-David Benyayer. The use of custom GPTs and the collective reflection around “Teaching with AI” with Alara Tascioglu illustrated how AI is reshaping teaching and learning practices across the institution. Kristiania shared several projects from its School of Health Sciences, followed by two key contributions at ESCP: an ethical perspective on AI presented by Erwan Lamy and the “Assessment in the AI Era” framework introduced by Sonia Ben Slimane.
Beyond the sessions themselves, the visit reaffirmed ESCP’s position as a European reference in AI for higher education. Kristiania came to learn and draw inspiration from ESCP’s model, the exchanges opened the door to future collaborations and a vital European dialogue on the future of education in the age of AI.
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A new edition of the REAS series brings top real estate executives to ESCP Madrid, strengthening experiential learning for MSc in Real Estate students.
This semester, the MSc in Real Estate (MRE) students at ESCP Business School had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the industry through a new round of Real Estate Association (REAS) after school events, held at the emblematic Colegio de Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos in Madrid. .
Designed as exclusive sessions for MRE students, the REAS series is a cornerstone of ESCP’s learning-by-doing methodology, bringing students closer to the realities of the sector and to the leaders shaping its future. Through direct interaction, students gain first-hand insights into career paths, professional challenges, emerging trends and personal leadership experiences—while strengthening their professional network in an authentic, high-level environment.
“The REAS series reflects our core mission: to bring students as close as possible to the real estate industry while they are still in the classroom. Learning from top executives allows them to understand the strategic complexity of the sector, the leadership behind major decisions, and the career opportunities that lie ahead. These encounters enrich their learning experience and prepare them to step confidently into a highly competitive global market.” - Prof. Jaime Luque, Academic Director of the MSc in Real Estate
A Semester of Insightful Exchanges with Industry Leaders
Dr Íñigo López de la Osa (23 October 2025)
The series opened with Dr Íñigo López de la Osa, CEO of the Monegasque development group López de la Osa & Franco. A prominent figure in southern Europe’s development landscape, he shared his unique trajectory—from physician to leading real estate developer—illustrating how multidisciplinary backgrounds can enrich the industry. Students also gained insights into large-scale projects such as Mareterra, Monaco’s ambitious sea extension development.
Jaime Pascual-Sanchíz (28 October 2025)
Students then met Jaime Pascual-Sanchíz, CEO of Savills Spain & Portugal, one of the world’s top real estate consultancies. With more than two decades at Savills, he offered a forward-looking perspective on the megatrends shaping the global real estate market, while reflecting on the competencies and mindset that will define the next generation of industry leaders.
Ismael Clemente (5 November 2025)
The third event featured Ismael Clemente, CEO of Merlin Properties, the largest REIT in Spain and an Ibex-35 listed company. His session focused on professional discipline, leadership, and the evolution of Merlin’s business strategy—from traditional asset classes to alternative investments such as data centres, a segment where the company is now a key player.
Mitra Ghamsari (3 December 2025)
The semester concluded on 3 December with Mitra Ghamsari, CEO and Principal of Persepolis Investments, who shared insights drawn from her career across real estate, finance and technology. Since founding Persepolis Investments in 2014, she has led value-add rehabilitation and rental management projects between Madrid and New York, establishing the firm as a reference in luxury flipping.
Based in the heart of Madrid, Persepolis focuses on identifying high-potential residential properties and elevating them through thoughtful design, high-quality rehabilitation, and strategic value creation. Before launching her firm, Ms. Ghamsari built a global career in macro and emerging markets investing at Autonomy Capital, Laurion Capital, Bridgewater Associates and Citigroup, following an early professional chapter in the technology sector at Microsoft.
Her session offered students a comprehensive look at how cross-sector expertise and innovative design can transform opportunities in the high-end real estate market.
Bringing Students Closer to the Real World of Real Estate
Through the REAS series, ESCP aims to bridge academic learning with real-world practice, giving students privileged access to conversations with the industry’s most influential decision-makers.
These encounters foster professional growth, sharpen strategic understanding, and reinforce ESCP’s commitment to preparing future leaders ready to navigate an increasingly complex and fast-evolving real estate sector.
“For our students, the REAS events are transformative. They gain first-hand insights into how the industry truly operates and what is expected from future professionals. Beyond the knowledge shared, these sessions create a space for meaningful dialogue and networking with leaders who shape today’s real estate landscape. It is an invaluable opportunity for them to grow personally, broaden their vision, and define their own professional pathway.” - Nicolás Diaz, Executive Director of the Msc in Real Estate.
Relevant Link
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Earlier this year, ESCP extended ChatGPT licenses to all students. A new mandatory GenAI course has been rolled out to help students use AI effectively and responsibly. We spoke to ESCP students to find out how AI is shaping the way they learn, study, and create.
How do you use AI?
Eva
AI has completely changed the way I organise my ideas. During a group project, I used it to clarify our structure and realised how much it could challenge my thinking.
Raphaël
AI has been a big win for my overall productivity. I trained an agent on my finance coursework so it could help me prepare for job interviews. It’s like having a personal professor, and it helps me a lot.
Louis
I view AI as a challenger. It allows me to gain a second point of view and challenges me to think further. When I study for exams, AI shows me how to use lecture concepts to answer questions I could not understand.
What did you learn in ESCP’s new GenAI course?
Raphaël
It was a great opportunity to strengthen my knowledge in computer science, giving me the perspective to speak about AI more thoughtfully. There were many hands-on use cases that continue to help me prepare for my final exams and job interviews.
Louis
ESCP has drastically changed the way I understand AI. Today, I can confidently use AI tools, as I have deep knowledge of AI’s inner workings and capabilities thanks to the GenAI course.
Eva
The course helped me structure the way I think about AI. It complemented ESCP’s management approach by showing how AI can support strategic decision-making and creativity. The team leading AI at ESCP also shares great ideas on how to use it effectively in our studies, from smarter revision methods to creative exploration.
What did building your own GPT teach you?
Louis
Creating my own GPT taught me about perimeter rules, off-internet and closed datasets. GPTs are powerful tools, they're highly flexible, and they can provide a wide range of services, as long as they are fed factual and correct data and used responsibly.
Raphaël
Iterate, keep trying new prompts, and don’t mind asking the GPT itself how it would reformulate the prompt to increase efficiency (metaprompting).
Eva
The process taught me that creating value with AI isn’t about technology alone. Building this made me realise that prompting is a form of communication, and that clarity is the real superpower.
Any AI tips for other students?
Raphaël
When you have an understanding of the task you’re going to ask the AI to do, focus on the clarity of your prompt and the readability of your data. When you’re not sure what to do or how to do it, ask the AI to ask you questions. The more you answer, the easier it will become for you and the AI to define your project.
Eva
Experiment, that’s the best way to learn! Be curious, test everything, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
When you hear “responsible AI use,” what does that mean to you?
Eva
Responsible AI use means staying aware of how and why we use it. It’s about understanding its limits, checking sources, and keeping a human perspective in every decision. I try to see AI as a co-pilot — helpful, but never in full control.
Louis
Responsible AI use means not replacing human critical thinking with AI tools. I always double-check AI’s feedback before using it in any project and acknowledge using AI as an assistant.
What’s one thing you think AI should never replace?
Raphaël
Most final decisions in any decision-making process should be made by humans. AI should remain a tool in the value chain, not the decision-maker.
Eva
Human creativity. AI can come up with ideas, but it doesn’t feel intuition and emotions that make something truly original. The best ideas happen when technology helps us imagine more.
Group Members
ESCP Moderator
Eva Ben Saïd
Master in Management student, co-founder of rAIse ESCP AI Society
Louis Volet
Bachelor in Management student
Raphaël Bartoux
Master in Management student, co-founder of rAIse ESCP AI Society
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