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Álvaro Cebrián, co-founder of El Ganso: "Don't stop being brave".

The Spanish executive gave the inaugural lecture of the XX edition of the Executive Master in Fashion Business Administration (FBA) of ISEM, which took place last Friday.

28 | 09 | 2021

53 students, 26 years old on average. Different countries, backgrounds, visions... And a common passion: the fashion business. Last Friday, the XX promotion of the Executive Master in Fashion Business Administration (FBA) of ISEM began its journey. In the presentations of each of them, the first professional steps were being taken in very diverse sectors: economics, engineering, communication, agronomist, health... and the most heard phrase was: "I have come to this master's degree to find my way".

Professor Pedro Mir was in charge of welcoming the students, introducing the ISEM team and explaining the fundamental aspects of the new path ahead. "Transformation is your key word this year," Mir began. "With the case method, the more you work individually, the better the classes will be and the better the knowledge that will be generated among all of you".

Teresa Sádaba, Dean of ISEM who is currently on a research stay in Washington, also wanted to send a video message to the students, encouraging them to take advantage of and especially enjoy this intense but surely very fruitful academic challenge.

A story of successful entrepreneurs

In 2006 Álvaro Cebrián and his brother Clemente started a menswear brand, El Ganso. Álvaro was in charge of the product and Clemente of the business and relationships. With a bit of intuition and a lot of desire they grew and opened their first stores in Barcelona, Paris, London... Eight years later they had a turnover of 50 million euros and were bought by an investment fund; a mistake they later managed to undo.

With a good dose of simplicity, the co-founder of El Ganso went through the main successes and mistakes they had made in recent years, as well as the lessons they had learned. It is not in vain that El Ganso is a brand that today turns over 60 million euros a year, has 500 employees and 150 stores of its own, and continues to produce 30% of its products in Spain. 

"Don't stop being brave," recommended Cebrián. Believing in your product, the importance of having a good team, the need for constant innovation, production in other countries, distribution channels, the role of investors and debt management were some of the topics that came up in his presentation, which generated many questions from the audience. 

"What do you hope to achieve five years from now?" a student asked. "To continue to be profitable and to be a brand committed to the product it makes: that we love what we do and that we are committed to the planet. A brand that lasts, that has identity and values, that customers enjoy".

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