CATÓLICA-LISBON PAEGI has changed my life. This training, along with teachers, fellow students, covered subjects, and methodology, provided me with a set of knowledge, networking and confidence to develop a business that went from 20 to 150 people and more than a dozen of companies; from the 5,000 EUR invested on PAEGI, I managed to receive, so far, a return of 703,000 EUR. When they asked me if the investment on training was worth it, well, it was one of the best investments I have made in my life.

Since I had an idea that I thought was suitable to be transformed into a specific project I enrolled in PAEGI with the objective of having access to the basic knowledge necessary to create a new company. My participation in PAEGI enabled me not only to acquire this general overview that I required but also, perhaps most importantly, brought me into contact with a risk capital company (PME Investments) through the business ideas contest promoted by PAEGI, which ended up by becoming the main investor in my project and transformed it into reality. PAEGI was an excellent opportunity to increase my network of contacts and I have been privileged to meet extremely interesting people who I regularly consult with when I need to make certain decisions. The quality of the teaching faculty is excellent and it was always a pleasure to attend classes. Today I can state without a shadow of doubt that the PAEGI program changed the course of my life, making it a great challenge.

In the beginning, keeping in mind my training as an interior designer, albeit a senior one, I did not anticipate the happy outcome achieved by the program - the contact with the faculty, the excellence and relevance of the contents, the position of the institution and the exchange of experiences with colleagues all provided me with the consistency and support that I needed to certify a new idea! To have received an "Honourable Mention" at the business ideas contest was the icing on the cake. From then on I have been able to manage the development of the project!

PAEGI was an extremely enriching learning experience for me. The teaching faculty is excellent and always proved to be extremely open and available. The curricular program is ambitious and eclectic, managing the "miracle" of covering all the themes in a very pragmatic and relevant manner in a short space of time. Above all, one can highlight what was the most pleasant and surprising element of all: the group spirit and ties that were created and the pleasure I derived from interacting with people I was privileged to meet at the PAEGI program. Congratulations to the PAEGI team for stimulating this positive spirit.

PAEGI was a turning point in my professional life, at a time when I felt that the knowledge accumulated in almost 20 years dedicated to biology research was not enough to address the new challenges of today's and ever changing global multidisciplinary, the creation of values are determining factors for the success of any initiative. This program allowed me to consolidate my networking, negotiation and management skills, as well as support my natural DNA to innovate. The environment of sharing experiences and projects with colleagues and teachers is a unique space of personal innovation.

Completing PAEGI was undoubtedly one of the best decisions I made, for the opportunity of personal and professional growth that brought me. The program focuses on innovative content and methodologies, which help us constructively, question how we perform our job. The classroom environment is dynamic and creative, based on dialogue, sharing of experiences and knowledge. I was lucky to meet great people and I believe that everything I have learned and lived was a very important investment for my future!

The combination of excellent teachers from different areas, crucial for the development of skills in the area of innovation and entrepreneurship, with the relaxed atmosphere and networking with excellent colleagues from different sectors, allowed me one of the most enriching experiences until present day. Nowadays, an entrepreneurial and innovation-focused approach is required to face global competitiveness. At PAEGI we have the tools and fundamental networking to the strategic development of any business.

PAIGE focus on value creation linked to innovation and entrepreneurship, stimulating the development of skills which translates into a professional evolution. PAIGE new approaches have applications in the public sector not only in the organizational sphere but also to respond to complex problems in an ever-changing world. Therefore, PAEGI is useful in supporting decision-making in the context of policy-making and administrative modernization.

One of the benefits of the program is to combine the multidisciplinary and holistic approach with the quality of teaching staff.

There are clearly positive points about this program: a good environment and sharing of ideas and experiences, as well as the network that lasts until today.

The PAEGI program was very important to me, both professionally and for other reasons. Firstly, it was a networking opportunity with colleagues from other companies, different professional areas and know-how. This diversity is very enriching, as it forces us to get out of our comfort zone. The structure of the PAEGI program is organized in a way that enables us to work on a project with mentoring. Throughout the program we get to apply the knowledge we acquired through the different program modules, and as a team, we get to study the feasibility of an idea, that can either be personal or professional, and then turn it into a business model, as well as prepare a final pitch. During that time, we share experiences with our colleagues and professors, whom are always available to help, and who make us believe that, in the end, the project is of quality and that it can be implemented. I consider PAEGI to be The Program, essential for all those going through this innovation and entrepreneurship path (which is not always easy), as it integrates all of the essential disciplines to understand how innovation works, independently of the business area. In my case, the PAEGI was also the first program I did at Universidade Católica, and it gave me the opportunity to meet this university and some of its excellent Professors.

Participating in the Advanced Program in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management executive program was a UNIQUE and rewarding experience. Overall, it enabled me to improve my expertise level in several areas, such as Innovation Management, Leadership and in the very concept of value creation. Regarding the overall educational experience, it enabled me to consider different perspectives in the academia setting, in a very practical sense. The case study analysis, both in the traditional business organizational setting, and in the creation, implementation and management of new businesses, enabled us to, as professionals, successfully follow the challenges of a business world in constant transformation. Particularly, this program also enabled me to deepen a process of inner transformation, by discovering new niches of knowledge, to which I’ve been delighted to keep pursuing. I’m specifically referring to social entrepreneurship as a vehicle for value creation, which is an increasingly prominent subject in the Portuguese agendas. Thankfully, both the faculty and the program’s curriculum overcame my highest expectations. Without a doubt, after accomplishing this goal, I feel more prepared to continue developing my career and new professional challenges. I frankly recommend it!

As an entrepreneur, the daily routine at an international tech start-up is always surprising, and it is essential to be ready to deal with all possible scenarios. The PAEGI program allowed me to gain the necessary know-how for the strategic development of my business, including all the stages necessary for start-up creation: from its investment strategy, covering financing, and pitching technique, to innovation, negotiation and marketing strategy, as well as acquiring the fundamental tools to tackle the expected business challenges of start-up management. What’s more, as my business’s core is creating impact, I had the opportunity to complete a module in social innovation with Prof. Filipe Santos, who is an international reference in this sector, and develop concepts which enabled the implementation of strategies to ensure my business’ core goals aren’t just the generation of profit, but also the generation of impact. In the context of a world of entrepreneurship and global competitiveness, the PAEGI program was, undoubtedly, an important investment for my future, and therefore, I highly recommend it!

Completing the PAEGI brought me two special important assets: the (re)creation of a learning routine for myself, and a contact network(networking), crucial for the training economics and the knowledge society in which we live, and where we have to keep our leadership. At the same time, I acquired concepts and experiences in an area that, being currently decisive and unavoidable, was far from being my specialty. Today, I can say that, in the field of innovation management, my path, my horizons, were definitely widened. The current challenge is to explore the wealth of information which was provided by a group of professors who are technically well prepared and highly motivational.

Continuous education, as everyone knows, is a must and will be even more so in the future. The need to be up-to-date and “on top of the wave”, enables me, through innovation, to contribute to the value creation in the chains with which we work in my organization and also to be in sync with the Entrepreneurs that seek us. Networking is also a theme that we should privilege, and therefore, the group of participants in this PAEGI program will be my core. It also allowed me to broaden my horizon to other areas, since the tools that we received allow for a different approach. The expectations I had for the PAEGI have not been disappointed.

It was with great pleasure that I took part in the 16th Edition of the PAEGI (Advanced Program in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management) from Católica. Despite my experience at the business level, the digital and innovation aspects were a pleasant, and extremely positive, surprise. It exceeded my expectations. Very well structured program, not only in terms of its contents, but mostly due to the extreme care given by the Faculty when teaching and passing on the knowledge to the participants. I must also emphasize the huge availability of the Faculty to provide support, and clarify doubts or issues during the entire program. I strongly recommend this program to all those who wish to become entrepreneurs.

The 2020 PAEGI was a success, it was the result of a good management in the implementation of a participative, in-person and on-line interaction system, to improve the experience sharing between all and introducing new ideas and projects.
It is remarkable how complete are the subject areas that renew and strengthen the knowledge in entrepreneurship and innovation in the acting areas. I highlight the quality of the environment between the teaching staff, guests, and networking, as well as the sharing of solutions and knowledge among the participants.

The PAEGI has all the ingredients to boost a potential entrepreneurial project: an excellent staff, wide variety of content in an intense and pragmatic way, a space for experience sharing and networking. On the course of the program, it is possible to create an entrepreneurial initiative from scratch using important tools, and get relevant contributions, from the staff and the colleagues of different areas of knowledge and professional experiences. It is present an environment of positivity and mutual help that contributes for the success of the Católica University’s executive program.

Católica-Lisbon’s PAEGI was an opportunity to get to know areas that – currently are indispensable – were distant to me. Allowed me to understand the true meaning of entrepreneurship; to understand new market languages and the dimension of the concept of innovation, against a background of networking with colleagues with distinct experiences and views.

The perfect organization, the relevance of the themes addressed, the excellence of the staff, and the great conditions of the course throughout the pandemic, these are important aspects which I will keep as reference for the PAEGI. I consider it as an investment of high reward.

My expectations, which were already high, were surpassed by attending the Advanced Program of Entrepreneurship and Management of Innovation in Católica Lisbon.
The quality of the education, the background of the staff, the program and the up-to-dateness of the themes, and the interest and the dynamic of the class, made this experience even more enhancing.
I brought new knowledge and, above all, a great desire to keep learning.