ESCALA Business Club, CATÓLICA-LISBON Launch Collaboration at Leadership Event

On Friday 23 October 2026, ESCALA Business Club Luxembourg–Portugal reported that, in partnership with CATÓLICA-LISBON School of Business & Economics | Executive Education, it had hosted an event at the official residence of Pedro Sousa e Abreu, Ambassador of Portugal to Luxembourg, in Luxembourg-Merl, on Thursday 22 October 2026.

According to the association, the event was dedicated to responsible leadership, executive development and the importance of building stronger connections between business and academia. The gathering brought together members of the business community, professionals and institutional representatives for an evening of reflection, knowledge-sharing and networking.

The event formed part of the ESCALA Discovery series and marked an important milestone in the collaboration between ESCALA Business Club and CATÓLICA-LISBON Executive Education, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in June 2026.

The partnership aims to bring academic excellence closer to the business community in Luxembourg, creating opportunities for executive education, professional development and the exchange of knowledge and experience.

Michel Bastos, President of ESCALA Business Club, and Feliciana Monteiro, Executive Director, represented the Club, highlighting its mission to build bridges between entrepreneurs, professionals and institutions in Luxembourg, Portugal and the Greater Region.

Founded in 2022, ESCALA Business Club promotes business connections, collaboration and professional growth through conferences, company visits, networking initiatives and strategic partnerships.

The evening's keynote speaker, Nuno Moreira da Cruz, Dean of Executive Education at CATÓLICA-LISBON, addressed the challenges of responsible leadership in a rapidly changing world. His presentation explored the importance of values, purpose and long-term vision, highlighting the need for leaders to balance business performance with a positive impact on people, organisations and society.

Miguel Perdigoto, responsible for international business development at CATÓLICA-LISBON Executive Education, also participated, presenting the school's executive education portfolio and the professional development opportunities available to managers and business leaders.

According to the association, CATÓLICA-LISBON ranks 26th worldwide in the Financial Times Executive Education Ranking 2026 for open programmes, its highest position to date. The school also holds Triple Crown accreditation — AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA.

Beyond the discussion on leadership, the event reinforced a shared commitment to lifelong learning, international cooperation and the development of a dynamic, internationally connected business community.

Through this partnership, ESCALA Business Club and CATÓLICA-LISBON Executive Education intend to explore further initiatives that connect academic knowledge with the practical challenges faced by businesses and their leaders.