16.00 - Main topic of the following dissertations: “Successful change processes”

Félix Peña - Specialist in International Economic Relations and Economic Integration. Director of the Institute of Trade of the Standard Bank Foundation-introduces kindly the participants of these dissertation-block and gave interesting questions to rise the interest about what would come now. “ How to change a model of a country?”

Philomena Murnaghan - Ambassador to Ireland in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay

This women was for me a perfect representation for Ireland, she inspired with her way she held her speech. She made clear right away that case of Ireland, and the success of the countries improvement, politically and economically, cannot be taken as a role model, since “there is not a size that fits all”.

Philomena Murnaghan gave us a short review of Ireland`s history, political and economical changes which occurred, difficulties that came along the way, past and new obstacles (e.g. oil crises, unemployment, migration). She described with a structured, very animating speech the recent situation of Irelands. Furthermore she explains the social synergy, which occurred through the change in Ireland, explained through listing the single steps, how much time it took until Ireland reach the point, where it is now, and does not leave out that the Irish luck surely contributed to the process.

Some factors which brought significant change to Ireland:

• Foreign direct investment – Government policy attracted foreign investment in order to learn from the foreign expertise, supported by government
• Investment in Education and skills since 1967: Educational system- offering free secondary education for all and offering it for free developed a young educated motivated work force, ready to conquer the world.
• Entrance in the European union in 1973
• Policies for stable public finances and new tax reforms

As in the speech about South Africa, she concludes that “Necessity is the mother of invention”. Ireland’s situation was unsustainable and needed action. After a long term process Ireland lives now a mission of “Lifelong learning” and with this can face the new obstacles the country has to face and improve.

Her speech was very positive, inspiring and showed again, that countries, which seem to have it so simple these days, as well had to reach this point and work hard for it.

Andrés Freire - Co-Founder, Chairman y CEO, Axialent Inc.

He practically described his whole working life. The essence and message which can be drawn out of it: An entrepreneurial life experiences many failures and few successes, but for those view it is worthy to be an entrepreneur. We have to work on building our own faith, and we should have fun during the process! Most important: Don’t give up!

Time: 10.30 - After the opening we started right away with the speeches of very interesting people.  José Luis Roces - Provost, ITBA – introduced everyone before them stating their presentation and gave a short overview of their curriculums. The main topic of the speeches was “Institutions, vision & leadership: basis for change”. And I personally appreciate this topic, since from my heart I feel that this is the basis to start the improvement of Argentina.

Gabriela Michetti - Vice-Mayor, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires,

Institutions- Gabriela points out that it urges Argentina to improve and strengthen them.

She reminds us that until now, Argentina unfortunately failed in taking its opportunities every single time it had the chance.  To not commit this error in the future she points out that in order to improve institutions the attention has to be on the members of the institutions, since the people itself are the most important factor. Including her, she says, people tend to live self-centered and while striving for success and improvement they do not see themselves part of a society or institution, but isolate themselves. Meaning, one person’s improvement is another one’s harm. Therefore the institution in a whole cannot improve, as people do not work together, but against each other. She reminds us that the goal and the only way to reach our personal dream, is to make it come true with taking into account the other people in an institution or in the society. To start with the improvement in Argentina, she remarks, that the change has to start in small communities, where personal relationships and  enthusiastic work can be established and therefore common goal be generated and realized with a better performance. In this way, she states, Argentina can overcome the mistrust in political and economic institutions and improve transparency and use its potential for a better future. However until the people do not understand that the change will be a middle to long term process and stop frustrating themselves with the recent state of being, they will not have the power to put a new vision in practice. She as well addresses the leaders of the institutions that they take as well the actions to unblock the existing skepticism and mistrust.
She gives hope by assuring that Argentina has a lot in favor to use its potential and has definitely the chance to improve.

Víctor Valle - Finance Director Latin America, Google Inc.

He started by showing us an impressive video about Google’s development. Unfortunately this was for me the most exiting part. Afterwards he talked about how the company developed and about the first big vision of the founders, which was to connect people and their information around the world. Quite a big  challenge and almost impossible to fulfill, but inspiring to all of us to see that such complex, intangible ideas, can be realized and become something that powerful and successful.  
He stressed out that Google is and was not a conventional company, and does not have the aim to become conventional. As a future mission the founders have in mind to achieve a goal which cannot even be achieved in their lifetime but will take approximately 300 years. With the success story of Google Victor Valle encourages us to “think big” and have long-term goals, and with the role model of Google he reminds us of the importance of using success as well to work with a high standard of ethics and with this improve the future not only inside the company but as well in the society.
He encourages us with the statement, that if we have a strong dream, and if we are imagining the dream and show will to realize it, the result can only be good. In his speech I hear the same essential word: “Trust”, but this time directed to us. We have to trust our ideas, and our power to realize them. I can only agree people.

Peter Goosen - Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa in Argentina

I like a lot Peter Gossen’s speech. Without linking explicitly the case of South Africa to Argentina, his message was clear and encouraging. He explained with the most essential information the history of the change in South Africa before, during and after 1994, the transformation of a system of discrimination and separation to a democratic country and how the political and economical and social changes took place step by step. The vision to change the country’s attitude to succeed in building a society which worked for the benefit for the greater good and actually with this even draws own benefit out of this new attitude.  
He stressed out that the negotiations were a long hard process. They occurred transparently to everybody, so the whole country good observe the development of the negotiation and discussions - no one excluded.
Concluding: The was a need for change; a big vision; a long process, where some needed to give up power to but in the end gained as well. South Africa still suffers with a huge unemployment, because of the change, but it is still a process, but they have come a long way. I think linking it explicitly to Argentina’s case is unnecessary, the message is clear.