This week, MDE Business School - one of IESE´s Associated Business schools – successfully kicked off its two core programs, the AMP and PMD in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Eighty high-level participants (40 in each program) holding senior positions, as required by program standards, are taking part, signifying a major advance for the newly-established business school.

On Feb. 24-25, IESE Business School's Barcelona campus will host Doing Good and Doing Well - Europe's largest MBA student-run conference on responsible business. More than 700 participants from all over the world will debate key issues related to sustainable business and society.

With smart phone and tablet sales now surpassing PC sales, consumers are radically changing how they use certain devices, says IESE Prof. Sandra Sieber. Post-PC devices have ushered in a "friendlier" technology environment, in which users feel a more personal attachment to IT products than they previously did.

The Euro Zone is currently experiencing a moment of relative stability, due to a massive liquidity injection from the European Central Bank, and another one on the horizon. But it may be the calm before the storm, says IESE Prof. Xavier Vives, since Europe still faces the challenge of boosting growth, and without growth, the region cannot become more competitive and deficit problems will remain.

The only thing that is certain is that the world is not coming to an end in 2012, despite the Mayan predictions that it will all be over by December. "We are so certain of this that we are prepared to take bets on it and if we´re wrong, then we´ll give you your money back," quipped Daniel Franklin, executive editor of The Economist.

Design thinking has become a buzzword in the marketplace, but what does it really look like and constructively do in the context of organizations today? In a special session with alumni moderated by IESE Prof. Joaquim Vilà at IESE's New York Center, Elizabeth Pastor gave a talk on how her company, Humantific, works with leaders seeking to drive change making in organizations.

The newly-released edition of "Eye on IESE" looks back on recent events such as the presentation on building green organizations by senior Siemens executive Nicholas von Rosty, as part of the MBA Global Leadership Series; a special session on turning clients into fans, with representatives from leading firms such as Coca-Cola, Amazon and Facebook; and record growth in IESE's alumni community, which now boasts more than 38,000 members.

The liquidity crisis that began in 2007 led to a pervasive lack of trust in banks, which was triggered by the banks themselves, explains IESE Prof. Antonio Argandoña. When banks face problems, they tend "not to tell the truth," which sparks suspicion in the marketplace that the situation may indeed be very bad.

IESE´s Media AMP 2012 includes top-level media and entertainment executives from countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Kenya, Nigeria, Spain, Mexico, Colombia and the United States.

The leaders of highly innovative companies have distinctive values, principles and practices, according to IESE Prof. Joaquim Vilà, who led a Continuous Education session with alumni and invited guests in Miami on Jan. 25. The unique way in which they exercise leadership is often the driving force behind innovation and growth in the company.