Exploring Mahou San Miguel's Legacy: A learning journey for IE University students

In a recent collaborative effort between the IE Center for Families in Business and the IE Family Business Club, IE University students and alumni with a family business background had the opportunity to visit Mahou San Miguel, the Spain's iconic beer company.

The group was hosted by Mahou San Miguel's CEO, Alberto Rodríguez-Toquero, and Board member, Eduardo Petrossi, who shared with the students the history and 130-year legacy of Mahou San Miguel as a 100% family-owned Spanish company, now in its 7th generation. Rodríguez-Toquero emphasized the importance of prioritizing the company's success, fostering family harmony, and embracing a mentality of continuous improvement and constant innovation.

The visit went beyond getting to know the brewery, it was a fantastic occasion for the students and alumni to learn about the key factors that gave Mahou San Miguel it’s competitive advantage. Key takeways from the session included the relevance behind Mahou San Miguel’s distinctive governance structure, the shareholders' proximity to the business, their commitment to quality, but most importantly, their efforts to nurture a sense of pride among family member and cultivate a trustworthy relationship with non-family managers.

The session concluded with a tasting of Mahou San Miguel 's exceptional beers, offering the group not only an enjoyable experience, but also valuable networking opportunities.

The IE Center for Families in Business, alongside IE Foundation, and is committed to enhancing the educational journey of students with family business backgrounds through enriching experiences of leadership and success stories like Mahou San Miguel’s, nurturing a community of excellence and enduring value.