ESEG Tech Summit 2026 connects students with global leaders in technology, innovation, economics, and business.
By Stela Martins
21/08/2026
Technology, artificial intelligence, innovation, economics, law, data, leadership, and business transformation were at the heart of... ESEG Tech Summit 2026, event of ESEG College, part of the Etapa Group, which brought together students and national and international experts to discuss topics that are redefining organizations, markets, and careers.
Held between August 3rd and 19th, 2026, at the ESEG Faculty, the event was part of the celebrations of 20 years of the Institution, with 8 lectures, 12 hours of content and about 760 entries in the activities.
The program brought together executives, researchers, and experts from institutions such as Columbia Law School, MIT, BTG Pactual, Unilever, Bradesco, Equinix, and Cornell University, as well as the winner of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economics, Philippe Aghion. By bringing these leading figures closer to the academic community, the Summit reinforced ESEG's mission to connect education, the market, and the major transformations in society.
George A. Bermann, professor at Columbia Law School and founder of the Center for International Commercial and Investment Arbitration, The program opened on August 3rd with a discussion on international commercial arbitration and its importance for legal certainty in global economic relations.
International benchmark in arbitration., In his lecture on International Law and Transnational Dispute Resolution, Bermann presented students with a perspective on the legal challenges that arise in commercial relationships involving companies, investors, and different countries. In this context, arbitration stands out as an important mechanism for resolving conflicts in an increasingly internationalized business environment.
The lecture also allowed bringing legal concepts closer to professional reality, demonstrating how the law keeps pace with the expansion of global business and needs to respond to increasingly complex economic relationships. The meeting with a professor from one of the world's leading universities broadened the students' knowledge and reinforced the importance of a legal education connected to the transformations and challenges of the international landscape.
On August 10th, Mariana Cardoso, statutory director and Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) of BTG Pactual, and Izabel Santiago, Executive Director of Regulatory Compliance at the bank., They discussed the challenges of leadership in digital transformation scenarios.
The executives highlighted the multidisciplinarity as an important skill in the financial market, showing how professionals in Law, Engineering and Business can work in an integrated way when faced with issues that combine technology, strategy and regulation.
Artificial intelligence was also part of the discussion, with examples of its application in analysis processes, decision-making, and identifying behaviors that require attention.
Rana K. Gupta, Executive Director of the Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), participated in the Summit on August 11th, in a live broadcast from Boston, United States.
Based on his experience at MIT, Gupta demonstrated how scientific research and discoveries can transcend the boundaries of laboratories and transform into products, startups, and solutions capable of generating economic and social impact. The expert highlighted that Innovation doesn't just mean developing new technologies., ...but above all, to understand real problems and transform knowledge into solutions that make a difference in people's lives.
The lecture also introduced students to concepts related to andtechnological entrepreneurship and technology transfer, This shows that the path from a good idea to its practical application involves identifying opportunities, validating hypotheses, and making decisions even in uncertain scenarios.
By sharing experiences from one of the world's leading innovation ecosystems, Gupta broadened the discussion about the role of universities in generating knowledge and creating solutions for society. For ESEG students, the meeting reinforced the importance of combining technical knowledge, entrepreneurial vision, and the ability to identify concrete needs—fundamental competencies for transforming innovation into impact.
On August 12th, Thaís Hagge, General Manager of Beauty & Wellbeing for Latin America at Unilever, She shared lessons learned from over two decades of professional experience, discussing career paths, leadership, brand building, and networking.
Plurality and cultural diversity were also central to the conversation. In analyzing the particularities of the Brazilian market, the executive showed that... The importance of understanding different behaviors and realities. to build relevant strategies.
The experience reinforced for the students that professional development combines technical knowledge, repertoire, the ability to make connections, and a willingness to learn continuously.
Also on August 12th, Devanyr Gonzaga de Aquino, Senior Superintendent of Data Intelligence at Bradesco, He showed students how data and artificial intelligence are structured and applied in one of the largest financial institutions in the country.
The presentation addressed data security, privacy, and governance, highlighting that large-scale AI applications depend not only on technology but also on quality data, infrastructure, strategy, and professionals capable of transforming information into decisions. By sharing examples from Bradesco's reality, Devanyr It brought students closer to the challenges involved in managing large volumes of data. and demonstrated how artificial intelligence can support different processes within a complex organization.
The meeting also reinforced the importance of reconciling technological innovation, security, and responsibility in the use of information. For the students, the experience provided a practical view of how data and AI are transforming the financial sector and highlighted the relevance of developing skills that allow them to connect technical knowledge to the strategic needs of businesses.
Felipe Mendes, Commercial Director of Equinix Brazil, On August 13th, the event brought to light an often overlooked perspective on digital transformation: the infrastructure needed to keep businesses, platforms, and services connected. In addressing this... digital ecosystems, artificial intelligence and career, The executive demonstrated how data centers, connectivity, computing, and processing power form the foundation that supports an increasingly digital economy.
With the expansion of artificial intelligence and the exponential growth in data volume, this infrastructure becomes a strategic element not only for the operation of companies, but also for the competitiveness and technological development of the country.
In addition to presenting this ecosystem, Felipe broadened the discussion to include the professional opportunities generated by this expanding sector., broadening students' perspectives on a strategic field ...and reinforcing the importance of understanding the infrastructure that supports the technology as an essential part of training aligned with the new demands of the market.
The transformation of the financial system was on the agenda on August 14th, with Lourdes Casanova, Director of the Cañizares Center for Emerging Markets and Associate Teaching Professor at Cornell University..
An expert in emerging markets, internationalization of companies, innovation, and the global economy, Casanova discussed the digital currency revolution and the changes that the digitalization of finance is causing in the economy. The lecture addressed... Cryptocurrencies, digital currencies central bank-issued securities (CBDCs), financial regulation and innovation, In addition to analyzing the role of emerging markets in the face of these transformations.
The discussion allowed students to understand that the evolution of digital currencies It goes beyond the realm of technology and involves economic, regulatory, and geopolitical issues. New forms of payment and resource circulation can influence the actions of central banks, financial institutions, companies, and governments, while simultaneously creating opportunities and challenges for different economies.
By bringing an international perspective to the topic, Lourdes broadened the scope.A reflection on how technological innovation and the economy are increasingly interconnected.. For ESEG students, the meeting contributed to a more comprehensive view of changes in the global financial system and the importance of keeping up with transformations that can impact investments, businesses, and economic relations between countries.
The closing of the program took on a special dimension with the International Inaugural Lecture given on August 19th by... Philippe Aghion, winner of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economics and professor at the Collège de France, the London School of Economics, and INSEAD..
One of the leading contemporary figures in studies on economic growth and innovation, Aghion discussed the relationship between innovation, competitiveness, technological transformation, and economic development, bringing students closer to concepts that help them... Understanding how technological advancements influence businesses, markets and economies. Among them, the idea of stood out “"creative destruction"”, a process by which new technologies and business models drive development while simultaneously transforming or replacing existing structures.
The discussion also highlighted that innovation, while fundamental to economic growth, requires environments capable of stimulating research, entrepreneurship, and competitiveness. The perspective presented by Aghion broadened the students' understanding of how decisions related to innovation and technological development can produce effects that extend beyond companies and reach the economy and society.
The meeting with the 2025 Nobel Prize winner in Economics provided students with direct contact with ideas that occupy a central position in international economic debate and reinforced ESEG's proposal to broaden the boundaries of the university experience through closer ties with global researchers and experts.
By connecting technology, economics, law, innovation, business, and professional development, the ESEG Tech Summit 2026 highlighted the importance of training capable of integrating different areas of knowledge.
Held in the year in which the ESEG College celebrates its 20th anniversary., The event reinforced pillars of its trajectory, such as academic excellence, practice, innovation, internationalization, and connection with the market.
With 8 lectures and 12 hours of content, the Summit brought the academic community closer to leading professionals and researchers, and to topics that are already transforming organizations and professions, strengthening ESEG's commitment to education connected to the challenges of the present and the opportunities of the future.
Stela Martins
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