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Unbreakable Conference 2025: Rising through resilience
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Unbreakable Conference is an annual event organized by IEU Girl Up Club , with the generous sponsorship of the Junta de Castilla y León. The conference creates a platform for students and female professionals to share their knowledge, insights, and experiences in a dynamic half-day program. Held at IE University’s Segovia campus, the event stands as one of Girl Up IE’s flagship initiatives, welcoming professionals from diverse fields — including finance, law, environmental sciences, technology, and sports. The conference aims to amplify Girl Up’s mission and values within the local community, inspiring students to engage with pressing global issues through the lens of gender equality, leadership, innovation, health, and safety. Through a series of thought-provoking panels and discussions, attendees are invited to explore what it means to lead with purpose, challenge barriers, and drive change across industries.
🪢This year, in collaboration with the IEU Charity Club, the event will also feature a fundraising activity to support a Segovia-based organization dedicated to the prevention of gender-based violence, reinforcing our shared commitment to social responsibility and local impact.
⚠️To make the event more accessible, transportation will be provided for attendees traveling from Madrid.
Registration will open in the coming days, and all interested participants are encouraged to sign up early, as spots will be limited.
🗓 Event Schedule
5:40 – 6:20 PM | Panel 1: "Breaking Barriers" by Pilar Toboso.
Step into the world of consulting and technology through Pilar’s journey — turning ambition into achievement. From excelling at IE University to joining top firms like McKinsey and Deloitte, she shares the lessons that shaped her path: a celebration of resilience, determination, and breaking barriers in male-dominated fields.
6:30 – 7:10 PM | Panel 2: "How Microbes Are Redefining Green Mining. Unlocking Nature’s Blueprint for Sustainable Metal Recovery" by Irene Sanchez Andrea
Can microbes solve the global metal crisis? In this interactive session, Dr. Irene Sánchez‑Andrea introduces "Mimi concept, the mining microbes", real acid-loving microorganisms from extreme environments that can extract metals and clean up pollution. Discover how microbes and biomimicry are transforming the way we think about mining. Join us to explore the science, the stories, and the sustainable future of green mining through the eyes of nature’s tiniest engineers.
Information to be confirmed.
7:20 – 8:00 PM | Panel 3: "Ethical Leadership in the Age of AI — The Risks of AI Without Ethics" by Elena Garrigues.
In a world transformed by artificial intelligence, purpose-driven leadership has never been more important. Elena invites us to explore how ethics, empathy, and accountability can shape technology for the better. This panel will spark reflection on how each of us can ensure innovation continues to empower the human spirit.
8:00 – 8:05 PM | Closing Remarks
Delivered by representatives of the Girl Up IE Club.
8:05 – 8:30 PM | Networking Session
An open networking space for attendees, speakers, and professionals to connect, exchange ideas, and foster collaboration.
Dress Business Casual
Food Provided (Drinks and snacks)
Agenda
Upcoming Events
Thu, Nov 06, 2025
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Private Location (sign in to display)
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Unbreakable Conference Price Roulette
🌟 Spin the Wheel & Support a Cause during the Unbreakable Conference! 🌟
📅 When? November 6, 2025
📍 Where? IE Segovia Campus, in the Cloister
🎉 During? The Unbreakable Conference.
💖 What? A special fundraiser for the ADAVAS Foundation in Segovia, which is a non-profit association which offers psychological, social assistance and legal advice to the victims of sexual abuse. It is involved in raising awareness and preventing sexual and gender-based violence.
🤝 Brought to you by: IE Charity Club & IE Girl Up. Join us in the Giving Season! 🌟
Try your luck on our roulette and win awesome prizes! Every spin = a surprise. Don’t miss the fun! ✨
🎁 Prizes You Could Win:
Irish Ticket Entry 🎫
Drillos Drink 🥤
IE Merch 🧢
Sweet Candy 🍬
Where
CAMPUS SEGOVIA
Sala Capitular
C. Cardenal Zúñiga, 12, 40003 Segovia, Segovia 40003, Spain
Speakers
Pilar Toboso Cárdenas
IE Student
Pilar Toboso Cárdenas is a Business Data Analytics and Business Administration student at IE University and Vice President of 180 Degrees Consulting Madrid. She has worked ain McKinsey & Company (summer business analyist), KPMG (Internship), and Deloitte (Consulting shadowing) in strategic and financial advisory roles. At IE, she has led AI and innovation initiatives across the Technology & Innovation and Robotics Clubs, engaging over 800 students. Ranked first in her cohort (GPA 9.8/10), Pilar has received multiple Vice Dean honors and the IE High Potential Award. Her work bridges data, strategy, and social impact to drive meaningful change.
Irene Sánchez Andrea
Professor & Research Group Leader in Environmental Microbiology, IE University
IE University
Dr. Irene Sánchez‑Andrea is a microbial ecologist and sustainability researcher specializing in green mining and microbial biotechnology. She leads a research group at IE University (Spain) that explores how acid-loving microbes from extreme environments like the Tinto River can help recover valuable metals, reduce pollution, and inspire nature-based solutions. Her work has led to the discovery of new microbial species and a novel CO₂ fixation pathway, the reductive glycine pathway, which changed scientific understanding of how microbes capture carbon. Her research connects microbial physiology, environmental sustainability, and biogeochemical innovation, aiming to develop real-world applications from nature’s own strategies. Irene has collaborated with NASA, worked across top labs in Germany, the Netherlans and the US, and published over 70 scientific papers, funded via international competitive grants. Besides, she is passionate about engaging students and the public in understanding the hidden powers of microbes.
Elena Garrigues
C-suite Executive
IE University
C-suite executive specialized in international business development and business transformation, with a macro level perspective and affinity for constant innovation. A global managing director and multifaceted profesional, Elena started her career as a journalist (foreign correspondent for the largest Spanish media group) but later moved on to financial services and wealth management (Chase Manhattan Bank, JPMorgan Chase). She has also worked in corporate reputation, CSR and innovation (Garrigues law firm). Her current job is in the legal field, as an international consultant. She serves on three non-profits boards: inclusive entrepreneurship (Nantik Lum) human rights (RFK Human Rights Spain) and children and adolescents’ rights (ANAR). Elena is also an award-winning photographer. She speaks fluent Spanish, English and French, conversational in German and Italian. Worked in New York (12 years); London (3 years); Brussels (2 years).
Sponsors
Hosted By
Laura Barragan
Co-hosted with: IE Charity Club, IE Campus Life, IE Campus Life - Women, IE Charity Club SC
Contact the organizers