Manuel Muñiz

Manuel Muñiz

Navigating the Intersection of Technology, Geopolitics, and Global Governance

Core Intelligence Domain: Geopolitics & Global Affairs
Location: Madrid, Spain | Languages: English, Spanish
Representation: Represented globally by PSpeakers Global Intelligence

Dr. Manuel Muñiz is a distinguished academic leader, former senior diplomat, and global strategist whose expertise lies at the critical juncture of international relations, technological disruption, and statecraft. As the Provost of IE University and Dean of the IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs, he shapes the minds of future leaders whilst actively contributing to high-level global policy frameworks.

His tenure as Secretary of State for Global Spain at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (2020–2021) saw him leading the country’s economic diplomacy and international reputation strategy during a period of unprecedented global volatility. During this time, he spearheaded Spain’s pioneering National Strategy on Technology and Global Order, laying the groundwork for how sovereign nations must adapt to the strategic implications of artificial intelligence, digitisation, and cyber sovereignty.

An esteemed academic, Dr. Muñiz holds a DPhil (PhD) in International Relations from the University of Oxford and is a Senior Associate at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. His proprietary research focuses heavily on the sustainability of the democratic model, the erosion of the middle class, and how the Fourth Industrial Revolution is restructuring the global political economy. He frequently advises C-suite executives and government officials on implementing strategic foresight to navigate complex geopolitical landscapes.

Current Roles and Strategic Leadership

• Provost of IE University: Leading the academic strategy and institutional development of one of Europe’s premier academic institutions.
• Dean of the IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs: Driving academic excellence, proprietary research, and global policy formulation.
• Senior Associate at the Belfer Center (Harvard Kennedy School): Contributing to world-leading research on international security, statecraft, and diplomacy.
• Member of the Trilateral Commission: Engaging with elite global leaders to foster closer cooperation between Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific region.

Major Achievements and Milestones

• Architect of Spain’s Technology Diplomacy: Drafted and launched Spain’s National Strategy on Technology and Global Order, establishing a definitive blueprint for technological diplomacy.
• Leadership in Global Diplomacy: Served as Secretary of State for Global Spain, successfully steering national economic diplomacy and public diplomacy frameworks during a critical global crisis.
• Academic Excellence: Recipient of numerous prestigious academic awards, holding degrees from Oxford University, Harvard University, and the Complutense University of Madrid.
• Global Forum Contributor: Regular participant and thought-leader at the World Economic Forum (Davos), the Munich Security Conference, and other premier geopolitical summits.

Core Speaking Themes

• The New Global Order: Understanding the shift from a unipolar to a multipolar world and defining what it means for multinational corporations and foreign direct investment.
• Technology and Statecraft: How artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digitisation are fundamentally rewriting the rules of diplomacy and national security.
• The Future of Democracy and the Social Contract: Analysing the economic drivers of populism, the stagnation of the middle class, and the structural reforms required to preserve institutional trust.
• Economic Diplomacy in a Fractured World: Strategies for corporate leaders and policymakers to navigate trade wars, supply chain realignments, and geopolitical fragmentation.
• Strategic Foresight for C-Suite Leaders: Proprietary frameworks for integrating geopolitical risk assessment into corporate strategy, capital allocation, and long-term planning.

Key Takeaways

• Geopolitical Risk Integration: Equip leadership teams with the analytical foresight to seamlessly integrate geopolitical forecasting into corporate risk management architectures.
• Technological Adaptation: Gain a macro-level understanding of how AI and digital transformation serve not merely as business enablers, but as profound instruments of global power.
• Navigating Market Volatility: Adopt proven statecraft strategies for maintaining operational stability amidst increasing global fragmentation and economic protectionism.
• Understanding Policy Shifts: Anticipate regulatory changes and sovereign economic policies by deciphering the underlying political and social pressures driving government decisions.