The much-anticipated Human Experience conference gathered leaders and professionals from the People, Talent and Culture sectors in the region. Attendees explored a mix of formal sessions, thoughtful reflections, and practical success stories alongside lighter, networking moments that fueled conversation and collaboration.
Throughout the day, participants examined fresh HR trends. Led by Juan Carlos Requena of Aquora, the program emphasized leadership approaches, culture evolution, and continuous learning as critical levers for company transformation and sustained performance.
The event included a data-informed takeaway: the Human Resources function can meaningfully improve the income statement when actions are concrete and justified. Jesus Hernandez of Vithas Alicante shared insights from his experience at Alain Afflelou, including a notable Plan Protection initiative. Ana Gomez explained the organizers’ perspective. The gathering concluded with a high-level roundtable that tackled the most pressing public-sector challenges and opportunities, featuring Soledad Berbegal of Actiu, Fernando Coloma, and Gumer Perez of Pikolinos.
David Rueda, Managing Partner at Expeinnova, led the day and moderated the final discussions alongside Juan Carlos Requena, co-founder of Aquora, underscoring a core message: when both customers and employees are people, those who do not understand people will fail to grasp business. He highlighted a historic moment for the HR function and its rising relevance within organizations.
Requena opened the presentation slate with remarks on a changing world where adaptability is a new value. Resilience will hinge on foresight, strategic adjustment, ongoing learning, and proactive vulnerability mitigation. He cautioned about gaps in leadership excellence revealed by employee surveys and championed a learning mindset focused on applying what is known rather than simply accumulating knowledge.
Ana Gómez, head of Afflelou Empresas, reminded attendees that regional managers now lead people rather than sheer resources. Companies investing in employee experience tend to outperform competitors in profitability and employer reputation. She stressed that employee experience must be innovative, differentiating, humane, and continuous, illustrating her point with a story about a conservation plan in a Galician firm that covers vision eyewear for staff, turning wellness into engagement leverage.
Jesús Hernanz, head of People and Organization at Vithas Hospitals in Alicante, demonstrated how health-focused HR practices translate into tangible results. Improved staff well-being reduces absenteeism and shortens waiting lists, yielding meaningful savings. He called the forum a practical, enjoyable space for mutual learning among People and Talent professionals.
The day closed with a dynamic roundtable led by Requena and featuring leaders such as Soledad Berbegal of Actiu, Gumer Pérez Machado of Pikolinos, and Fernando Coloma of Zahonero. The dialogue covered 2024 challenges, including recruiting for specific roles, managing digital skills, and the role of technology in work across offices and remote environments. Berbegal reminded participants that having screens is not equivalent to knowing how to use them, and the discussion reflected on the impact of COVID on supply chains and the evolving work culture in the era of hybrid and remote environments.
The event proved to be a valuable think tank for management roles in the Alicante region, offering inspiration, self-diagnosis, opportunity spotting, and a platform for shared concerns. Expeinnova and Aquora Change Makers plan to host a similar HR think tank in 2024, aiming to boost knowledge transfer and competitiveness for organizations throughout the province.
About Aquora
Aquora Change Makers stands among leading consultancies in cultural transformation and human development for organizations at home and abroad. The firm works with clients across industries, from small and mid-sized enterprises to large multinationals, guiding culture and people strategy through practical, outcome-focused approaches. Aquora is part of the Ifedes Group, a long-standing organization with more than 25 years of experience helping companies innovate their business models and navigate change.
About Expeinnova
Expeinnova specializes in customer experience and employee experience design. The firm partners with teams to use user-centered innovation tools through design thinking, helping align people around a shared goal: delighting the customer and elevating everyday work life for staff.