Mikel Urizarbarrena, president of Panda Software, wins Entrepreneur of the Year 2004 award
Organized by Ernst & Young, in collaboration with IESE, Grupo Vocento and the ABC newspaper, this award is recognition of the work of Mikel Urizarbarrena as president of Panda Software, one of the world’s leading IT security companies.
This is the most prestigious international award of its kind. Held annually for almost twenty years, it is now organized in 35 countries across 5 continents, in recognition of the work and activity of enterprising companies and business people.
"Creating a company is exciting in an increasingly globalized world where the need for sustainable development generates challenges and opportunities that demand more and better entrepreneurs."
Mikel Urizarbarrena, president of Panda Software, has won the ninth edition of the Spanish Entrepreneur of the Year 2004 award, after being chosen from among 21 other finalists. This is the most prestigious international award of its kind. Held annually for almost twenty years, it is now organized in 35 countries across 5 continents, in recognition of the work and activity of enterprising companies and business people.
This award, organized by Ernst & Young in collaboration with IESE, Grupo Vocento and the ABC newspaper, is aimed at recognizing entrepreneurial spirit, innovation and sound management as key factors in meeting the challenges that the constantly evolving economic environment generates. Urizarbarrena was given the award forEntrepreneur of the Year 2004 as, according to the panel of judges, he has all the qualities that today’s entrepreneur should have.
Urizarbarrena, during his speech on accepting the award at a ceremony in Barcelona (Spain) highlighted the maxim of his professional career, “Hunger feeds ingenuity; as entrepreneurs we now have more responsibility, and we need to be conscious that from the position we are in, we must pass our experiences on to others that follow in our footsteps.”
“An entrepreneur is like an artist who gradually gives shape and form to his work, creating and innovating new techniques. I would urge educators, both parents and teachers, to encourage children to create things and watch them grow.”
Urizarbarrena also highlighted the importance of separating the day-to-day running of the company from the processes of creation and innovation inherent in the entrepreneur, and the need to have sound management to enable the entrepreneur to develop his or her qualities as an innovator.
Closing his speech, Urizarbarrena thanked Ernst & Young, IESE, Grupo Vocento and ABC, for promoting these kinds of awards and the role they play in creating a society with an increasing number of entrepreneurs. He also expressed his gratitude to all those who are part of the Panda Software group and to those clients that have continually placed their trust in the company.
In addition to Entrepreneur of the Year 2004 award, five other wards were presented: Entrepreneurial career award, Employment creation award, Internationalization award, Innovation award and New entrepreneur award.
As Spain’s Entrepreneur of the Year 2004, Urizarbarrena will take part along with the winners from 35 other countries, in the World Entrepreneur of the Year 2004 contest in Monte Carlo (Monaco) at the end of May.
About the Entrepreneur of the Year 2004
Organized annually by Ernst & Young, these awards originated in the USA and are now held in 35 countries across five continents. They aim to spotlight the success of entrepreneurs and reward, in particular, their entrepreneurial spirit, innovation and sound management as key factors in meeting the challenges that the constantly evolving economic environment generates.
Selection method used for the Spanish Entrepreneur of the Year award:
Selection by province
21 finalists chosen
One winner – five consolation awards.