Faculty

Get to know our faculty

Juan Parodi is a specialist in the development of transformation processes towards sustainability and innovation, and community building. Working with different organizations towards a future aligned to people and the planet. With 18 years of working experience, he has developed projects with companies like Coca-Cola, BBVA, Philips, Roche, Pfizer; public institutions like the City of Madrid, the European Commission, among others.

He is currently the Co-Founder and Chief Community Strategist of Community Hackers, the first Spanish agency dedicated exclusively to helping brands create authentic, engaged communities with a positive impact.

He holds a degree in Political Science and another one in International Relations. He has a Master’s Degree in CSR, another one in Communication and Public Relations, a Postgraduate Degree in Digital Marketing and an Executive Postgraduate Degree in Agile Methodologies.

He mentors different entrepreneurs and startups, helping them to integrate sustainability into their strategy, operations and business model.

Juan Parodi is a seasoned expert in fostering sustainability, innovation, and community development. With a career spanning 18 years, he has collaborated with renowned organizations such as Coca-Cola, BBVA... (read more)

He is part of the BMW Foundation’s Responsible Leader’s Network. Being accepted as a Responsible Leader means that you are a person who considers society as a whole and contributes to a caring, sustainable and future-oriented world by putting your influence and experience to worHe mentors different entrepreneurs and startups, helping them to integrate sustainability into their strategy, operations and business model.

Edgar Barroso, CMC®, is a Certified Management Consultant (CMC-Global Institute, Switzerland) and an international consultant with AVERTICA® Consulting Group and Top Social Power®. He serves as a professor and guest lecturer at universities, corporations, and official organizations across the U.S., Europe, and beyond — including ICEX, the Madrid Regional Government (CAM), and the Madrid Chamber of Commerce.

With over 25 years of hands-on experience across multiple industries, Edgar brings a rare combination of academic depth and real-world entrepreneurial track record — having built and operated franchises and startups, including Telepizza, Cash Converters, and The Clean House. His areas of expertise include International Business, International Marketing, Hospitality Management, Entrepreneurship, and Franchise Development Systems.

Edgar is a regular contributor to LinkedIn Expert Voices and is actively involved in several business blogs and podcasts. He is also the author of There Is Gold Inside YOU© (ISBN-13: 9781311642387), a practical guide covering entrepreneurship, new venture creation, and financial independence. His career has spanned France, the United States, and Spain, where he has held senior leadership and management roles throughout.

Cristina Penin will be the Lead Faculty for the course Company Placement. She has over a decade of experience in education, strategy, and organizational development, with a strong focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

Her career began as an educator in Seattle and New York before she moved to Madrid, where she founded and scaled her own academy. Since then, Cristina has worked as a DEI consultant and facilitator with global corporations, NGOs, and startups, helping leaders and teams build more inclusive, equitable, and effective workplaces.

As Lead Faculty, Cristina brings her consulting expertise into the classroom: guiding students to approach real business challenges with structure, creativity, and an equity lens. She is passionate about preparing students to think critically, communicate effectively, and design solutions that make a tangible impact.

My name is Nadine van Aalst, and I am really excited to be teaching the Human Resources, Talent Management, Leadership and Culture course this fall. I’m originally from the Netherlands, and after completing my studies, opportunities to grow both personally and professionally have mostly taken me abroad to work in international, fast-paced environments before settling permanently with my family in Madrid two years ago.

Over the past twelve years, I’ve worked in HR and leadership across global companies and scale-ups. What excites me most is that this field is so vital; people are essential to any organisation, and it is inspiring to be part of this ever-changing field. I would describe my teaching style as engaging, open, and inspired by real-life experience. I love bringing practice into the classroom and creating space for students to reflect, connect, and experiment with ideas that matter in the world of HR and leadership. Outside of work, I like to be active outdoors, exploring Madrid’s food scene, and enjoying long dinners with friends. I look forward to meeting you in the classroom!

Rafael Pérez, with over a decade of logistics and finance experience, embarked on a new career journey in 2017, focusing on education and languages. Armed with Master’s Degrees in Applied Linguistics and Teacher Training for Compulsory Secondary Education, he transitioned into education, assuming the role of a Spanish language teacher.

Currently, Rafael serves as the Head of Spanish at Business and Language College Spain in Madrid. In this capacity, he manages courses, mentors teaching staff, and provides pedagogical support for marketing and social media activities. Additionally, he contributes to curriculum development, ensuring alignment with learning objectives and student needs, as well as student mentoring.

His diverse experiences enriched his teaching expertise and deepened his understanding of language acquisition and cross-cultural communication.

Before transitioning to education, Rafael held roles in logistics and finance. At Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, he managed inventory across Spain, Italy, and Portugal, ensuring optimal levels and coordinating logistical operations. He spearheaded projects to enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction, leveraging his strategic planning and problem-solving skills. These experiences laid a solid foundation for his approach to teaching and leadership in education.

Armed with Master’s Degrees in Applied Linguistics and Teacher Training for Compulsory Secondary Education, he transitioned into education, assuming the role of a Spanish language teacher.

His diverse experiences enriched his teaching expertise and deepened his understanding of language acquisition and cross-cultural communication.

Alejandro Buriel Rocha 高涵is an internationally recognized university professor, consultant, and thought leader specializing in Business Strategy, Innovation, and Digital Transformation, with pioneering expertise in applying Generative Artificial Intelligence to executive management. He brings over 30 years of global experience, cultivated within multicultural, fast-moving environments including 12 years in China and 8 years in the United States.

His academic appointments include teaching at world-class institutions such as IE University in Madrid and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) in Shenzhen, preparing the next generation of global leaders through cutting-edge methodologies encompassing active learning and vocational coaching.

Alejandro has spearheaded international expansions for business schools, establishing offices and partnerships across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. He advises corporations on digitalization strategies, responsible innovation, and cultural transformation. As founder of platforms like NeuroIntent, an AI conversational tool for decision optimization, and a certified AI trainer through Google, he bridges technical mastery with strategic insight.

Fluent in Spanish, English, and Mandarin, Alejandro excels in leading multicultural teams and fostering adaptive, creative, and resilient organizational cultures. His approach merges academic excellence with hands-on experience, driven by a commitment to talent development and innovation education amid global uncertainty.

Hi, my name is Cassandra Le (she/they)! I’m excited to be back at BLC this fall semester to teach “Customer Journey & Branding”, as well as “Social Media & Content Marketing”! I am originally from Virginia, USA, but have been calling Spain home for the past 10 years.

I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality & Tourism Management, am a retired marketing & media agency owner, and have been creating content online since I was 13 years old. I originally came to Spain to teach English abroad, then built up my own online business, and now work as a marketing consultant and creator.

My teaching style combines an intersectional feminist, liberatory, and ethical lens with marketing strategies. My goal is to create a hands-on learning environment where students can get real-world marketing experience in different areas, build business acumen, and get creative with their marketing campaigns and strategies.

When not working, you can find me creating content, traveling, visiting local cafés for a sweet treat, or trying out a new creative hobby. I look forward to meeting the students and spending the next semester together!

Learn more about our undergraduate degrees and postgraduate courses

Practical, real-world examples from the international business and marketing world.