{"id":1209,"date":"2025-05-19T15:33:08","date_gmt":"2025-05-19T14:33:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.iese.edu\/entrepreneurship\/?p=1209"},"modified":"2025-05-19T15:41:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T14:41:29","slug":"how-entrepreneurship-and-ai-are-shaping-tomorrow-insights-from-professor-sandra-sieber","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.iese.edu\/entrepreneurship\/2025\/05\/19\/how-entrepreneurship-and-ai-are-shaping-tomorrow-insights-from-professor-sandra-sieber\/","title":{"rendered":"How entrepreneurship and AI are shaping tomorrow: Insights from Professor Sandra Sieber"},"content":{"rendered":"

We sat down with Sandra Sieber, Professor of Entrepreneurship at IESE Business School, to hear about her journey, inspirations, and vision for the future of business and leadership in an AI-driven world.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start at the beginning, can you tell us a little about your background and how you got to where you are today?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m originally from Germany, but I grew up in Indonesia and Mexico before coming to Spain, where I completed my degree and later my PhD in Economics and Business Education. I joined IESE as a Professor of Information Systems, a role I held for nearly 20 years. My research led me to entrepreneurial practices, and three years ago, I transitioned to the Entrepreneurship Department. Today, I combine my expertise in digital technologies and entrepreneurship \u2013 a thrilling intersection!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Who have been the most influential figures in your life?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Probably the most influential figure in my life was my father. Although he passed away when I was young, his advice to prioritize my academic career shaped my path profoundly. He worked for a German multinational company and recognized the importance of formal education, having faced his own career limitations without it. His encouragement has been a guiding diamond throughout my life, influencing many of the decisions I’ve made personally and professionally.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At IESE, we aim to develop leaders who have a deep and lasting impact. What are your thoughts on the role of entrepreneurship in society?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Entrepreneurship is crucial, especially in uncertain times. An entrepreneurial mindset \u2014 adaptability, foresight, and the willingness to unlearn and relearn \u2014 has become essential for individuals, organizations, and society. Traditional processes often lock structures into outdated paths, but entrepreneurial practices help break that inertia. We must formalize and spread entrepreneurial knowledge, and as professors, we can have a meaningful, long-term impact by equipping people with the tools to adapt and lead in an ever-changing world.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What accomplishment, personal or professional, are you most proud of,<\/span><\/b> and why?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m not someone who often feels proud, but if I reflect, I would say raising three grown-up children while building an academic career at IESE is something special. Balancing my research and teaching with family life has required what Catalans call <\/span>seny i<\/span><\/i>\u00a0rauxa<\/span><\/i> \u2013 a mix of thoughtful grounding and bold intuition. Maintaining this balance professionally and personally, and helping my children grow into thoughtful individuals, is something I truly value and am proud of.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What inspires you most about your work at IESE?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The continuous learning. Every interaction, whether with students, colleagues, or the institution itself, is a chance to learn something new. IESE fosters an environment where you are constantly evolving, absorbing knowledge, and helping others to develop their own potential. This constant exchange of ideas and growth keeps the work dynamic, inspiring, and deeply fulfilling. It is a privilege to work in a setting that prioritizes lifelong learning in such a genuine and vibrant way.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How do you see the rise of digital technologies, particularly AI, reshaping traditional business models?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We are at the start of a fundamental transformation. Generative AI is not just another technology; it\u2019s a general-purpose technology with profound implications for business models and work practices. It\u2019s no longer about just implementing systems: it’s about rethinking organizations at every level. My research focuses on helping people adopt these technologies positively, overcoming fear and shame, and instead embracing the entrepreneurial opportunity to lead change. We are entering a phase of discovery, and it’s fascinating.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What words of advice would you give to students or anyone considering the entrepreneurship route?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn as much about entrepreneurship as fast as possible. The world is growing more complex and unpredictable, and entrepreneurial qualities like seeing opportunities, tackling challenges, adapting swiftly\u2026 are essential everywhere. Whether you’re founding a startup, working within a large corporation, or leading a family project, the entrepreneurial mindset is crucial. It\u2019s not just about creating companies; it’s about being ready to navigate and shape a world in constant flux. And yes, it\u2019s also a lot of fun!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n

Thank you, Sandra. Now for the speed round:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?<\/span><\/b>
\nSketching, painting, biking, skiing, swimming \u2013 and experimenting with creative projects, including GenAI at home.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dog, Cat, Parakeet, Goldfish, Pet Rock?<\/span><\/b>
\nBringing up three children and looking after my family was enough responsibility!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are you reading, watching, or listening to these days?<\/span><\/b>
\nI\u2019m reading <\/span>SUPERAGENCY – What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future, by Reid Hoffman and Greg Beato. <\/span><\/i>The book presents an optimistic roadmap for leveraging AI to enhance human agency, creativity, and societal progress. A great read!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s something that makes you happy?<\/span><\/b>
\nFree time.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Favorite place?<\/span><\/b>
\nAnywhere in the nature \u2013 sea or mountains.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Explain GenAI to a 10-year-old.<\/span><\/b>
\nActually, let\u2019s explain it to a 50-year-old: GenAI is like having a really smart helper who listens to your ideas and helps make them better. The best part? The ideas are still yours, this AI just helps bring them to life. You and GenAI work together like a super team. So, in short: GenAI isn\u2019t about replacing people. It\u2019s about making us smarter, stronger, and more creative.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We sat down with Sandra Sieber, Professor of Entrepreneurship at IESE Business School, to hear about her journey, inspirations, and vision for the future of business and leadership in an AI-driven world.\u00a0 Let\u2019s start at the beginning, can you tell us a little about your background and how you got to where you are today?\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2424,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[157,240],"tags":[],"coauthors":[116158],"class_list":["post-1209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-entrepreneurship","category-innovation","megacategoria-mc-entrepreneurship"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.iese.edu\/entrepreneurship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.iese.edu\/entrepreneurship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.iese.edu\/entrepreneurship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.iese.edu\/entrepreneurship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2424"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.iese.edu\/entrepreneurship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1209"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blog.iese.edu\/entrepreneurship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1209\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1217,"href":"https:\/\/blog.iese.edu\/entrepreneurship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1209\/revisions\/1217"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.iese.edu\/entrepreneurship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.iese.edu\/entrepreneurship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.iese.edu\/entrepreneurship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1209"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.iese.edu\/entrepreneurship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=1209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}