Fundamentals of Diversity

Brendan has dedicated over 20 years to the field of Education, focusing on communication skills, culture, and complexity. Since 2022, he has taught approximately 15,000 students from over 60 countries. Holding a degree in economics and history, a postgraduate degree in business administration, and an MA in International Relations, Brendan’s current research centers on Culture, Trust, and Negotiations. He is an accomplished author, having published several books, and has received over 60 awards for teaching excellence at IE, across undergraduate, master's, and executive levels.

Dr. Celia de Anca serves as the Deputy Dean for Ethics, Diversity, and Inclusion, as well as the Director of the Center for Diversity in Global Management at IE University, where she also teaches courses on Diversity and Islamic Finance. Previously, she held the position of Director of Corporate Programmes at the Euro-Arab Management School (EAMS) in Granada and has experience with the Fundación Cooperación Internacional y Promoción Ibero-América Europa (CIPIE) and the International Division of Banco de Santander. Dr. de Anca holds a master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Boston and the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. She earned her degree and PhD from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, where she wrote a comparative thesis focusing on Islamic and ethical/ecological investment funds, as well as the London Market. She is the author of "Beyond Tribalism" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012) and co-author of "Managing Diversity in the Global Organization" (Macmillan, 2007). Throughout her career, Dr. de Anca has published numerous articles in specialized journals and has contributed to various press outlets. She served as an external advisor to Merrill Lynch’s Diversity & Inclusion Council until 2009 and has been a member of the Ethics Committee of InverCaixa’s Ethics Fund since 2010. Additionally, she has been on the IFN Advisory Board and the IMEFM Editorial Advisory Board since 2020. Recognized as the Female Executive of 2008 by the Business Women’s Association of Madrid (ASEME), Dr. de Anca is fluent in Spanish, English, French, and Arabic. Her work has garnered citations from leading thinkers, including Zygmunt Bauman in his final book, "Retrotopia," and she has received numerous accolades, such as the 2019 Highly Commended Award for her paper "Spanish Women's Career Inhibitors 2007-2017" from Literati Emerald Publishing, as well as the Best Article award in Corporate Governance: An International Journal.