IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs

450 million people. One market. So what is holding European startups back?

At South Summit 2026, Enrico Letta, our Dean, joined Lucien Burm, president of the Dutch Startup Association, and Miguel Ángel Alcalá, Head of BBVA Spark Europe, to explore how Europe can create the right conditions for startups to scale, attract investment and compete globally.

The discussion focused on the challenges founders face across Europe, from fragmented regulations to access to capital, and the opportunities that come from building a more connected and competitive ecosystem.

Watch the highlights from the conversation.

What does it really mean to work in international development?

In Nairobi, students from the Master in International Development at IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs are exploring global challenges on the ground, from the UN system to local initiatives in Kibera.

For many, the experience is as personal as it is academic, with one student describing it as “a gorgeous place, with a beautiful campus, professional staff and great people. I’m happy to be here.”

Explore the week through the photos.

From the classroom to the heart of the action.

Our Master in International Relations students just spent a week living the reality of global diplomacy in Brussels and Geneva. Imagine walking the halls of the European Parliament one day and discussing global security at NATO the next.

The highlights:
📍 Navigating the halls of the European Commission
📍 Exploring the UN's impact in Geneva
📍 Building a network that spans across borders

One week of immersion, a future of global impact. This is where your journey begins!

What does it take to rebuild a country and make it stronger?

We welcomed María José Pinto, Vice President of Ecuador, for a conversation with our students on social reconstruction and long-term development. Her message was simple but powerful: investing in people, health, equality and social cohesion is what drives real economic resilience.

She also left students with a challenge: don’t wait until you feel ready. Opportunities come fast, and if you don’t take them, someone else will. The real responsibility is to use what you learn and bring it back to where it’s needed most.

Moments like this are what shape future public leaders, connecting classroom learning with real-world decision-making.

Thank you for being part of this conversation.

5,000 meters. One team. A completely different understanding of leadership.

Students from IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs have completed the sixth edition of the Transformational Leadership Journey to Nepal, an experience that challenged them physically and mentally.

“This experience has been one of the most difficult things I have ever done… It taught me the importance of perseverance and believing in myself,” shared one participant.

From trekking through the Himalayas to sharing moments with the Sherpa community, this journey became about resilience, connection and pushing forward together.

They discovered that leadership is not about control, but about support, trust and showing up for others when it matters most.

A special thank you to for guiding and inspiring this journey.

🔗 Read more at the link in our bio.

5,000 meters. One team. A completely different understanding of leadership.

Students from IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs have completed the sixth edition of the Transformational Leadership Journey to Nepal, an experience that challenged them physically and mentally.

“This experience has been one of the most difficult things I have ever done… It taught me the importance of perseverance and believing in myself,” shared one participant.

From trekking through the Himalayas to sharing moments with the Sherpa community, this journey became about resilience, connection and pushing forward together.

They discovered that leadership is not about control, but about support, trust and showing up for others when it matters most.

A special thank you to Edurne Pasaban for guiding and inspiring this journey.

Read more: https://www.ie.edu/school-politics-economics-global-affairs/news/ie-university-students-embark-transformational-leadership-journey-trekking-himalaya/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&utm_campaign=FEEDC-EN-WW-REACH-IEEXP-ACEXCEL-PREXEXP-NEPAL_SCH_ALLU_SPEGA_allpw_allp&utm_content