Paul Bulcke, chairman of Nestlé, and Peter Vanham, author, captivate the audience at EU Business School

On November 20, EU Business School (EU) welcomed the chairman of Nestlé, Paul Bulcke, and Peter Vanham, Media Lead at the World Economic Forum and author of the popular book ‘Before I was CEO’, for an enlightening business conference in Barcelona. 

This event formed part of EU’s series of guest speaker sessions, which aims to bring innovative and inspirational conferences to its students.

Mr. Bulcke delivered an engaging presentation on his career, Nestlé’s purpose to enhance quality of life and contribute to a healthier future, its values rooted in respect, and how to navigate today’s VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world. During his presentation, Mr. Bulcke spoke about how Nestlé’s purpose and values have remained the same over the last 150 years and how they are still driving everything the company does today. “We are committed to enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future. This is our purpose. That is why we exist,” he said.

Peter Vanham then joined Mr. Bulcke on stage to question him more deeply about his business career, his experience living in Latin America, his personal motivation and his family values.

Guests also had the opportunity to put their questions to Mr. Bulcke in an insightful question and answer session. He offered some inspirational advice to EU students, highlighting the importance of gaining new experiences, learning about new cultures and languages, and enjoying every moment of the journey. “Your career is a marathon, not a sprint. Always keep time in perspective,” advised Mr. Bulcke.

The conference was followed by a book signing of Mr. Vanham’s renowned book ‘Before I was CEO’, which explores the personal journeys of some of today’s most accomplished business leaders, including Paul Bulcke. Students and guests also had the chance to exchange ideas and build meaningful connections during the networking coffee break.

Reflecting on the event, President of EU Business School, Dr. Dirk Craen said, “Mr. Bulcke is one of today’s most accomplished business leaders and Mr. Vanham is an incredibly talented business writer and professional with a wealth of knowledge and expertise. It was a true honour to welcome them to Barcelona to inspire our students, the future business leaders of tomorrow.”