Javier Goyeneche: "I don't know if there will be a planet B, but we have to take care of the one we have".
15 | 06 | 2022
The Alumni building of the Madrid campus once again hosted an 'Alumni Meeting', which was attended by more than 500 people and featured the session "The strength of a purpose" given by Javier Goyeneche, founder and CEO of sustainable fashion company Ecoalf.
The event began with a speech by Inés García Paine, president of Alumni of the University of Navarra, andÁngel J. Gómez-Montoro, director of the Madrid campus, who welcomed all the attendees. In this presentation, they explained some of the novelties of the University and invited to participate in the numerous opportunities it offers.
Once the presentations had been made, Isabel Ramis, president of the Madrid Alumni Board, was in charge of moderating the discussion withJavier Goyeneche, founder of Ecoalf, who was quick to highlight the role of universities in society: "Universities contribute a great deal to the business world through their research. As far as we are concerned, it goes hand in hand. What we are doing would not be possible if there were no technology and research behind it. I wish there were more investment in research in Spain".
In his speech, Goyeneche spoke of coherence, principles and values and explained the importance of purpose as a challenge for companies: "It is true that being sustainable is very complicated. But there is a new generation that is coming to demonstrate that it is possible to be profitable and at the same time respectful of the environment. The key is not in what you do but in how you do it, that makes you different."
Goyeneche also had words of encouragement for those who are starting up or intend to start up. "What is needed is to be disruptive, very brave, people who think differently. The world needs companies, people, who want to show that doing things in a different and profitable way is possible."
In addition, the founder and CEO of Ecoalf recalled that the most sustainable thing is not to continue using the planet's natural resources indiscriminately, stressing the need for a change of model. "There is an excess of consumption in which quantity is prioritized over quality. We must change this, because it means a great impact on the environment, we must change the economic model or this is going to jump" and reinforced his idea of fashion from recycling with the same quality and design as the best non-recycled products.
Welcome to Alumni
The Alumni Meeting also served to give a warm Alumni welcome to the Master's studentswho are completing their postgraduate studies at the Madrid campus this year. A total of 17 Master's programs are currently being offered at this campus. All these programs are taught in the Alumni building, a space where specialties from different areas of university knowledge interact and where students can experiment, learn and grow personally and professionally.
The event ended with a cocktail, enlivened by the music group "Dos Maderas", in which Alejandro Villafranca, a student of the Real Estate Master of the School of Architecture, sang. A moment of relaxed gathering in which many alumni took the opportunity to meet again after these two years without being able to celebrate the 'Alumni meeting'.
Photo gallery of the event
