BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 21. IE
University is seeking to develop a long-term partnership with
Azerbaijan based on education, knowledge, cooperation and trust,
its Executive Chairman of Corporate Relations William Davila said
today at the opening of the "AZEMBA" program of the IE Center for
Leadership and Innovation at ADA University, Trend's correspondent reports
from the event.


He said the university aims to connect Azerbaijan more
closely with IE's global network of people, ideas and
organizations.


"We want to learn about and better understand the
priorities and challenges of this country and every organization.
We want to develop talent, create knowledge and work together with
companies, institutions and governments. We want to connect
Azerbaijan even more closely with IE's global network of people,
ideas and organizations," he said.


According to Davila, the launch of the "AZEMBA"
program goes beyond the implementation of an academic project and
lays the foundation for a long-term relationship between Azerbaijan
and IE University.


"That is why today, for IE and AZEMBA, is not simply
the beginning of an academic program. It is the beginning of a
long-term relationship — a partnership between IE and Azerbaijan,
global knowledge and local knowledge, academia and business, and,
most importantly, between people," he said.


Davila noted that the world is currently undergoing a
period of rapid transformation. According to him, artificial
intelligence is creating new challenges for organizations,
technology is accelerating decision-making, while geopolitical and
geographic shifts are reshaping markets and business
strategies.


"Assumptions and approaches that once remained
reliable for years can now change within a few months. It is
precisely in such an environment that education becomes even more
vital. But not simply because it gives us more information.
Information is already becoming increasingly abundant. The real
challenge is knowing what to do: being able to ask the right
questions, understand context, bring together different
perspectives, make sound decisions amid uncertainty and turn
knowledge into action," the IE University representative said.


Davila emphasized that the essence of leadership is
reflected precisely in these skills.


"In my view, the future vision of a country or
organization requires people who can move across sectors,
understand global trends and, at the same time, remain closely
connected to local realities. We need leaders who can manage
transformation, build organizations capable of adapting to change
and understand that, ultimately, transformation is about people,"
he added.


He also emphasized the importance of cooperation with
PAŞA Holding, SOCAR and other organizations represented at the
opening of the program.


"We are very proud to begin this journey together with
PAŞA Holding, SOCAR and the other organizations represented here
today. You have placed your trust in IE, and we deeply understand
this responsibility. We have not come here simply to teach; we have
also come here to learn," Davila said.







According to him, Azerbaijan should not only gain
knowledge from IE University; the university should also learn from
Azerbaijan's experience.


"To me, that is precisely what makes a university
truly global: not simply exporting knowledge, but building bridges
between different ecosystems and allowing new ideas to emerge from
that intersection," he said.


Addressing participants in the "AZEMBA" program,
Davila urged them to focus not only on academic knowledge but also
on the relationships, discussions and different perspectives that
will emerge throughout the program.


"The most valuable learning does not happen when
someone gives you the right answer; it happens when someone makes
you reconsider your own approach," he said.


He noted that IE, which began as a small business
school in Madrid nearly 50 years ago, now operates on a global
scale, adding that the launch of the "AZEMBA" program in Baku
represents a new stage in that development.


"I hope that years from now, when we look back on
today from the perspective of time, we will not remember it simply
as an ordinary day when a new MBA program was launched. We will see
this day as the beginning of something much bigger — a long-term
partnership between IE and Azerbaijan based on education,
knowledge, cooperation and trust," Davila said.


The IE University's Executive Chairman of Corporate
Relations thanked the partners, organization representatives and
participants who contributed to the implementation of the
project.


"Welcome to IE, welcome to AZEMBA, and welcome to the
beginning of a very long and successful story between IE and
Azerbaijan," he added.


The "AZEMBA" program of the IE Center for Leadership
and Innovation was launched with the support of the ministries of
Economy and Science and Education and in partnership with PAŞA
Holding, SOCAR and Spain's IE University. Under the program,
participants will receive internationally oriented education in
areas including digital transformation, artificial intelligence,
sustainable development, innovation, leadership and modern
management.