We help professionals
spread their ideas
We are committed to creating and continuously improving effective communicators who spread their message with clarity, simplicity, and authenticity, impacting the audiences to change their habits, values, and beliefs.We are
Meet our founders
Katharine D'Amico
PhD in Neuroscience
Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Barcelona School of Managemen Professor of the practice
EMBA program Director
Katharine is Canadian. President at The Swala Institute Applied Neuroscience for Business.
Katharine is professor of the practice in The Barcelona School of Management - Universitat Pompeu Fabra, and Director of the EMBA programs
She served as the Academic Director of Executive MBA at Esade, and Senior Lecturer in Communication Strategy, Leadership & Applied Neuroscience at ESADE in Executive MBA, Emerging leaders and advanced management programs.
She is academic collaborator and lecturer at IESE Business School, and guest lecturer at Harvard Business School Executive Education, and Northwestern Kellogg School of Management.
She is also the first woman appointed as Professor of the Practice at the UPF Barcelona School of Management, and Academic Director of the Executive MBA Program
Katharine is professor of the practice in The Barcelona School of Management - Universitat Pompeu Fabra, and Director of the EMBA programs
She served as the Academic Director of Executive MBA at Esade, and Senior Lecturer in Communication Strategy, Leadership & Applied Neuroscience at ESADE in Executive MBA, Emerging leaders and advanced management programs.
She is academic collaborator and lecturer at IESE Business School, and guest lecturer at Harvard Business School Executive Education, and Northwestern Kellogg School of Management.
She is also the first woman appointed as Professor of the Practice at the UPF Barcelona School of Management, and Academic Director of the Executive MBA Program
She was Program lead in Corporate Programs in Microsoft, Facebook & Amazon, Bayer, Hiberus, Alcon, Agilent, Luxoft, Vanderlande, La Roche, SEAT, Novartis, REPSOL, GB Foods, among others.
CORPORATE EXPERIENCE
She is a well-known program lead on Communication Strategy in Repsol Technology & Innovation Hub, La Caixa XXI, Barcelona Health Booster, Sant Juan de Deu, IDIBAPS D HEALTH, EIT Health,Medtronic, EIT Innoenergy, Agilent, GMAT Europe, SME Instrument Horizon and in International Congresses such as European Women in Technology, Lean In Network Barcelona, The STEM Women´s congress and The European Society of Women Engineers. She served as member of the Board of Directors at the ESADE Alumni Women Empowerment Club, and is member at Ejecon, LEANIn and W4STEAM. She is a contributor to Forbes US, Harvard Deusto Magazine with her May 2024 article of the month, El Pais and Expansión.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INVESTOR EXPERIENCE
She has vast experience as a Mentor in public speaking and deck pitch management. She has mentored more than 900 startups in the last 5 years. She is Mentor for world class accelerators in Spain and the EU such as Wayra SILO Innovation and Science,Ship2B ,Wayra SCALE Up Women, 5G The Thinx with the World Mobile Capital, & The IESE Women Bootcamp for Innovation in Health, Mentor for IDIBAPS, CRAASH Barcelona Col.legi de Metges de Barcelona, Col.legi de Enginyers de Barcelona. Speaker at STEM Women´s Congress and the European Society of Women Engineers. She is a Business Angel in tech start- ups at pre-seed and seed stages, raising +190 M € in public and private funds, bringing Neuroscience and Leadership to business.
Her post-doctoral research includes the brain´s decision making process as well as the gender dynamics of neuroscience and leadership. She is leading a large scale decision-making study on AI and liver cancer treatment as well serving as Chair of a Behavioural Science Committee
Josep Ballesté,
ESADE Graduate & MBA
ESADE Universitat Ramón Llull
Academic Collaborator
AMP Advance Management Program
EMDB Exec Master Digital Business
CEMS International Management Program
Academic collaborator at ESADE. Vice-president at the Swala institute. Managing director at Swala ventures. Executive Business Coach & Advisor. Chief Strategy Officer @ Tailor Surgery Business Coach @ Biocat
Expert in new buiness ventures, fundraising and communication deck building
Dynamic executive business coach, venture builder, and applied neuroscience expert specializing in new venture funding, fundraising, and negotiations—particularly within the Biotech and MedTech industries. With a track record of leading multi-million euro fundraising rounds, structuring Asociaciones de Interés Económico (AIEs), and advising startups on securing institutional and private capital. I bridge the gap between science, business, and investment mindsets. With experience in Artificial Intelligence (AI) project management, I have spearheaded AI-driven healthcare innovations, ensuring compliance with FDA and EU regulatory frameworks. My expertise extends to navigating complex regulatory landscapes, aligning AI-based medical technologies with global compliance standards, and driving digital transformation in healthcare. As an advisor and board member to multiple startups and institutions, I specialize in funding strategy, international scaling, and negotiation tactics, equipping founders with the tools to attract top-tier investors and drive exponential growth. I leverage neuroscience principles to optimize decision-making, leadership, and business communication, ensuring clarity, persuasion, and impact in high-stakes negotiations
Dynamic executive business coach, venture builder, and applied neuroscience expert specializing in new venture funding, fundraising, and negotiations—particularly within the Biotech and MedTech industries. With a track record of leading multi-million euro fundraising rounds, structuring Asociaciones de Interés Económico (AIEs), and advising startups on securing institutional and private capital. I bridge the gap between science, business, and investment mindsets. With experience in Artificial Intelligence (AI) project management, I have spearheaded AI-driven healthcare innovations, ensuring compliance with FDA and EU regulatory frameworks. My expertise extends to navigating complex regulatory landscapes, aligning AI-based medical technologies with global compliance standards, and driving digital transformation in healthcare. As an advisor and board member to multiple startups and institutions, I specialize in funding strategy, international scaling, and negotiation tactics, equipping founders with the tools to attract top-tier investors and drive exponential growth. I leverage neuroscience principles to optimize decision-making, leadership, and business communication, ensuring clarity, persuasion, and impact in high-stakes negotiations
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Avenue Ramon Escayola, 46
08197 Sant Cugar BARCELONA
08197 Sant Cugar BARCELONA
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