A professor at the Universidad de Columbia, and author of the successful book “La Fórmula del Real Madrid”, Steven Mandis, shared the aspects of the club that fascinated him while he was researching for his book with MBA students and teaching staff from the Real Madrid Graduate School – Universidad Europea. Corporate General Manager of Real Madrid, Carlos Martínez de Albornoz, presented Steven Mandis at a conference held on January 9, at the VIP Area of Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Martínez defined him as “a curious, motivated and experienced person who, with no prior knowledge of football or how important the entity is for its fans, has perfectly conveyed how Real Madrid C.F. came about”.
Steven Mandis started his speech by highlighting the transparency of Real Madrid C. F. during two years of research and interviews. In fact, he said, “I expected a more opaque club, similar to US sporting entities, but I was surprised by how accessible the executives were and the trust the club placed in my book”. The author highlighted that “it was then that I realized that this was a club that looks beyond numbers to achieve its objectives, fostering a culture and system of values that make Real Madrid unique in the world”.
The US author reminded MBA students from the Real Madrid Graduate School – Universidad Europea of the delicate situation when Real Madrid went from the brink of bankruptcy in the 90s to becoming the largest sporting entity in the world thanks to its commitment to the values that have always defined Real Madrid. According to Mandis, “far from what is common among executives who set the guidelines for the entity, for me the key was when Real Madrid decided to go back to its roots, asking its members and fans to build a solid, long-lasting project. This gesture reinforces the idea that maintaining and preserving values is essential for success; the rest will take care of itself”.
Among other sensations, Mandis told the students that “for Real Madrid the synergy between the young players, the team, management and students is vital to convey the team’s values and those of its fans”. Finally, Steven Mandis also highlighted the creation of the Real Madrid Graduate School – Universidad Europea to search and train global leaders for the sports industry. According to Mandis, “the enthusiasm Real Madrid puts into working with its players every day is the same enthusiasm it puts into training its students at the Real Madrid Graduate School-Universidad Europea Campus; training that strengthens and guarantees a successful future for Real Madrid”.