This year, 2018, will mark the fifth consecutive year of growth in our economy. Barring a few exceptions, for example, the persistently delicate situation of Basque companies, or the real difficulties Basque SMEs are currently experiencing, by all accounts, the economic recovery is a reality, and we can declare the recession to be a thing of the past. Nonetheless, a new scenario is emerging and it is now time to…

In 2010, I met the CEO of Los Grobo Group, Gustavo Grobocopatel, during a conference in Montevideo on regional competitiveness and the future of food under the theme: "What role does Uruguay want to play in the various world agri-food chains in the next 50 years?" Today, this an Argentinian agri-business company employs over 900 people, has a turnover of over $800 million, and administers 150,000 hectares (throughout Argentina, Uruguay,…

Can professional sports today, so unapologetically commercial and far removed from the original idea of pure fun, inspire change in our organisations? History, cinema, or sports are just some of the spheres which companies and their top executives regularly look to for sources of inspiration and models to follow: seeking to glean lessons on human interaction and how to implement organisational change. The recent passing of legendary university basketball coach…

It is popular belief that ‘we are what we eat’. Likewise, fine food and cuisine have a reputation for excellence and quality in Basque culture. The lesser known side of this reputation, though, is that the Basque agri-food industry is in fact a key pillar of economic growth: It represents 7 percent of Industrial value and the companies in this sector make up 11 percent of all Basque companies, but…