Ontier, Transcendent and Advantere School host the Impact Day
The iconic Alhambra Palace became the epicenter of Spain’s impact economy movement as over 100 business leaders gathered for Impact Day 2025, the country’s leading event on social and environmental impact. In its third edition, this year’s event spotlighted family businesses as powerful drivers of economic growth and key agents of social change.
Held in a context of global uncertainty, climate emergency, and rising inequality, Impact Day 2025 emphasized the need for a new business paradigm—one that places social and environmental impact at the core of economic value creation. The event was organized by the Observatorio de Impacto, in collaboration with Transcendent, Ontier, and Advantere School of Management.
Family Business: a natural leader in impact
Family-owned enterprises form the backbone of Spain’s economy, representing 90% of companies, employing over 10.2 million people, and contributing €560 billion to the country’s GDP. Impressively, 78% of Spanish family businesses already prioritize environmental and social impact within their strategies—surpassing the global average.
“Family businesses are essential for a better world,” said Ignacio Rivera, President of the Instituto de Empresa Familiar, during his keynote. “Our purpose goes beyond economic contribution—we are committed to people, our origins, our communities, and the planet.”
The event featured two global impact pioneers: Sir Ronald Cohen, Chairman of the GSG Impact and widely regarded as the father of the impact investing movement, and Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever and leading advocate for business as a force for good.
Sir Ronald Cohen hailed family businesses as “the original pioneers of purpose-driven capitalism,” while Polman stressed that “inaction is far more costly than action,” citing a global cost of $176 trillion in unaddressed social and environmental challenges—versus a $43 trillion opportunity from embracing impact.
Corporate commitment and cutting-edge initiatives
Leading Spanish companies showcased innovative models of business with impact during three roundtables:
- Alsa shared its Women Drivers initiative, promoting gender diversity in the transport sector.
- Mahou San Miguel highlighted its social innovation program training youth for careers in hospitality.
- Moda Re- and tuTECHÔ presented creative business responses to homelessness and social inclusion.
- Cárnicas Zurita and Grupo Maracof demonstrated how sustainability can drive business growth and access to new markets.
The choice of the Alhambra as the event’s venue underscored the event’s theme of legacy, sustainability, and purpose. Built in 1238, the palace is a timeless symbol of balance, cultural fusion, and responsible stewardship—values echoed in today’s impact-driven business strategies.
The Patronato de la Alhambra, committed to the UN’s SDGs and UNESCO principles, also reaffirmed its mission to drive social equity, cultural preservation, and environmental responsibility.
A movement gaining momentum
María Herrero, President of the Observatorio de Impacto, closed the event with a clear message: “Impact is not just a trend—it’s a new economic logic. Family businesses today have the power to build stronger societies and unlock new opportunities by putting purpose at the center of business.”
Pedro Rodero, Executive Chairman of Ontier Spain, echoed this sentiment: “Our role as strategic legal partners is to help businesses generate value with purpose—sustainably and collaboratively.”
With support from sponsors like CaixaBank and Iberia, both long-time advocates of social and environmental impact, Impact Day 2025 marked a defining moment for Spain’s business community: a call to action to lead with legacy, create with conscience, and grow with impact.
