Purpose
Executive Coaching, Independent Philanthropy Advisory & High Level Mediation
My professional path combines technical training, leadership experience, institutional responsibility, and deep exposure to executive decision-making.
Having studied at RWTH Aachen University and worked for twelve years as an engineer and project manager, I gained a rigorous, execution-oriented mindset and first-hand experience in complex organisations. My subsequent work in Munich led to co-founding two non-governmental organisations in Germany, both with measurable and lasting social impact.
In addition to a broader role at IESE Business School, my current position is Executive Director of IESE Stiftung Deutschland. Working for a top-ranked business school allows me to accompany many senior executives as they confront blind spots, address personal and professional challenges, and learn to grow by questioning assumptions and engaging in open, respectful dialogue.
My academic exposure includes participation in the Advanced Management Program, Executive Leadership Programs, and more than ten short executive education programs. I am also the author of the book “Un Mallorquín en Alemania”, reflecting a life lived between cultures.
I understand the particular dynamics of family businesses as well as large corporations, and I am familiar with the emotional complexity that accompanies leadership, wealth, responsibility, and giving. As a donor myself, I understand from the inside the emotional journey embedded in philanthropic decisions.
With almost fifty years of life experience in Germany and long-standing ties to Spain and the Balearic Islands, I am well positioned to deliver discreet, culturally sensitive, and resultsoriented advice.
Munich, Germany
Palma de Mallorca, Spain
My professional experience is rooted in my work at:
a) Ericsson as Telecom Engineer (1991-2003) and Project Manager managing software development projects such big as 200 engineers in fourteen countries.
b) NGO co-founder of the German Large Family Association (2003-2024)
c) IESE Business School from 2015 onwards, as Alumni Director and Fundraiser. In this role, I have worked closely with senior executives, entrepreneurs, companies, foundations, and private individuals, accompanying them through both their professional development and their donor journeys.
My work has involved helping donors clarify intent, align values with action, and translate generosity into well-structured, meaningful contributions. The philanthropic initiatives developed with my support have resulted in grants, scholarships, naming opportunities, and long-term CSR and institutional partnerships.
This experience provides a deep, practical understanding of how philanthropic decisions are made, how trust is built, and how leadership, wealth, and responsibility intersect over time.
My work at IESE has been particularly focused on the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and the Balearic Islands, allowing me to operate in an international yet highly relational context, and to build long-term trust with individuals, families, and institutions across cultures.
Independent advice. Trusted dialogue. Long-term perspective.
Pons Advisory offers independent, discreet, and reflective advice. Strategic growth and meaningful giving thrive on trusted dialogue. Whether you are navigating family business dynamics, defining your philanthropic legacy, or seeking discreet mediation, let us connect to discuss how I can support your vision. Get in touch to start the conversation.
Best wishes,
Dipl.-Ing. José Félix Pons de Villanueva