From exploring his curiosity as a self-described “kid at heart” to earning a PhD and later founding his own startup, this is the story of José Parra Moyano, Professor of Digital Strategy at IMD Business School. José is a passionate and award-winning teacher who has been listed as a member of the Thinkers50 Radar List, a Forbes 30 under 30, and a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum.
In this episode, John and Konsti sit down with José to explore how his early passion for discovery led him into academia, the rapid evolution of generative AI, why the future belongs to humans who combine hardcore technical skills with soft-skill mastery, the enduring value of relationships, and how living by an internal “magna carta” of core values (and trusting one’s gut) can guide both personal and professional decisions.
Key Takeaways and Highlights:
Curiosity as a Career Catalyst: José’s journey began as a curious child, always asking “what’s beyond the next mountain?”, a trait he still carries into the classroom, where he learns as much from his students as they do from him. One of his heroes, the Spanish neuroscientist and Nobel laureate Santiago Ramón y Cajal, also embodied that “kid-at-heart” sense of wonder, which fueled groundbreaking discoveries and revealed the neuron as the brain’s fundamental unit.
Stand Out by Combining Hard and Soft Skills: Today’s competitive edge arises from blending “hardcore” analytical capabilities enabled by AI with empathy, stage presence, and authentic communication (skills that AI can’t replicate but can enhance).
Why Relationships Are More Important Than Ever: Drawing on a 1930s economic model explaining why firms exist (internal vs. external costs and asset specificity), José explains that firms internalise activities when they can perform them more cheaply and efficiently than the market. This illustrates why highly specific assets, such as deep client relationships that take years to establish, will become relevant than ever in the age of AI.
Living by Your Own “Magna Carta”: José lives by three core principles: “Don’t hurt people,” “Be an outlier, not a crowd follower,” and “Family above all”. He warns that ignoring your gut when a decision feels off is the surest way to lose both time and integrity, and he urges everyone to be more like his hero, Bertrand Russell, a truly unique thinker who went against the mainstream.
Honest Feedback for Real Growth: Beyond mere polite praise, genuine psychological safety (or type 2 psychological safety, as José refers to it) enables peers and mentors to provide direct, constructive criticism, allowing you to improve collectively without the fear of straining relationships.
Enjoy the show!
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