Known for its interactive approach, this convention provides participants with corporate networking events, career seminars, panel discussions and keynote speakers. This year, six ambitious IE University students participated in the 22nd edition of the annual event.
Among the attendees was Isaac González, a second-year Bachelor in Economics student who received registration support from the Economics Society Club. He says this experience allowed him to travel abroad and engage with the top echelon of global economists. “I loved seeing ideas explained in depth by Nobel Laureates and hearing complex concepts broken down into simple points by such esteemed economists,” he comments.
Joining González were students Sebastian Narvaez, Luca Jones, Salvador Roque de Pino, Pedro Fernández Garmendia and Adrián Hernández. Together, they navigated this three-day event that supplied them with cutting-edge economic knowledge and professional networks to jump-start their careers.
Let’s take a closer look inside the 2024 Warwick Economics Summit:
Day one: building networks and career insights
The summit started with a bustling networking event, career seminar and various opening addresses. The first keynote speaker was John Ridding, CEO of the Financial Times. Following this, the current President of East Timor, José Ramos-Horta, delivered a captivating lecture.
In the afternoon, a panel entitled “Looking Ahead: The Economic Outlook for 2024 and Beyond” discussed the future of the economy. This was followed by a speech from the Deputy Chair of the Bank of England, Philip Marsden.
The day finished with a networking reception and dinner where participants got the chance to speak to peers and experts in attendance. The valuable insights from economic and political leaders gained on this opening day set the tone for the stimulating discussions ahead.
Day two: diverse perspectives on current topics
The thought-provoking sessions continued on the second day, beginning with a talk from the Portuguese economist Mário Centeno, who currently serves as the Governor of the Bank of Portugal. Other keynote speakers included the Honorable Melissa Park from the Australian Parliament; US economist Stephanie Kelton; and influential Tibetan politician Penpa Tsering, President of the Central Tibetan Administration.
The wide array of topics covered in the second day’s events ranged from a panel discussion entitled “The Future of Food: The Role of Sustainable Proteins in Global Food Reform” to a debate on de-dollarization. The final speaker of the day was Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. As the Director of the World Health Organization, he brought his global health perspective to the economic dialogue.
Day three: understanding today’s financial and corporate worlds
The final day began with an uplifting video address from Vjosa Osmani, the incumbent president of Kosovo. Soon after, the former CEO of Aston Martin, Dr. Ulrich Bez, gave his keynote speech.
I found it extremely rewarding and exciting to chat with the previous CEO of Aston Martin
Isaac González
The panel “Navigating Monetary Policy: Perspectives from Central Banks Around the World” featured Jean-Claude Trichet, a French economist who served as president of the European Central Bank from 2004 to 2011. He offered unique insights into global financial systems.
The second panel of the day was titled “Managing Global Risks: Corporate Decision-Making in a Volatile World,” where participants gained expert insights on the current business landscape. The final speaker was the American-Canadian economist Myron S. Scholes, the 1997 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences.
First-hand insights and invaluable connections
Beyond the formal sessions, the Warwick Economic Summit provided IE University with significant personal and professional growth opportunities. According to González, it also demonstrated the versatility of the Bachelor in Economics degree.
“I will take this experience as proof that economics can be applied to anything,” said González. “As an economist, you can work in any field.”
At the same time, the summit reinforced what students were learning about in an academic setting. This practical application of classroom knowledge to real-world discussions demonstrates IE University’s commitment to applied learning.
The information we acquired in class was essential to keeping up with certain topics from the conference, from the discovery of the Black–Scholes model to the possible economics of an independent Tibet
Not only did attendees of the conference benefit from the range of speakers, they also gained valuable mentorship opportunities from alumni, partners and sponsors. Such a holistic approach ensures that participants leave the summit with new knowledge, fresh connections and inspiring career prospects.
At IE University, we are proud to support our students in experiencing hands-on learning opportunities outside the classroom such as this one. We encourage interested students to attend next year’s conference and gain first-hand insights into the world of economics.
The Warwick Economics Summit is one of the few opportunities personally extended to economics students, so I recommend that any Bachelor in Economics student give it a shot
