Joaquin Cuenca Abela has a diverse work experience spanning various roles and companies. Joaquin is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Freepik Company since January 2018. Joaquin is also a Co-Founder of BeSoccer/Resultados de Fútbol since 2010. Additionally, they are the CEO-Founder of Empirical Evidence SL since 2012. Before these positions, they worked as the CTO at PressPeople from April 2010 to December 2013. Prior to that, they worked as a Software Engineer at Google from July 2007 to April 2010 and as the Founder of Panoramio from October 2005 to July 2007.
Joaquin Cuenca Abela studied Physics and Computer Science at the University of Valencia from 1994 to 1998. Joaquin then pursued further education in the same fields at Paris-Sud University (Paris XI) from 1998 to 2001.
In this episode of the *Embracing Digital Transformation* podcast, host Dr. Darren sits down with special guest Joaquin Abela, CEO of Freepik, to discuss the topic of integrating generative AI into business models and the challenges of digital transformation. Joaquin shares his journey from a tech-loving young boy to leading a successful startup and dives into the significant impact that innovative technologies, such as generative AI, have had on the image licensing industry. Key points include the importance of adapting quickly to disruption, leveraging existing strengths rather than trying to compete directly with new technologies, and making strategic decisions that align with changing market demands. ## Takeaways - Embrace change and adapt quickly to new technologies to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. - Leverage existing strengths and capabilities when integrating new technologies instead of trying to master everything in-house. - Understand your target audience and cater to their unique needs, especially in times of market disruption. - Foster open communication with customers and encourage teams to engage directly with users to gather insights and improve products. - AI can enhance team productivity by automating mundane tasks, enabling professionals to focus on creative and strategic efforts. ## Chapters - 00:00 - Introduction to the Episode - 01:20 - Joaquin Abela's Background and Origin Story - 05:30 - The Evolution of Freepik and Initial Challenges - 10:00 - The Impact of Generative AI on the Stock Image Industry - 15:00 - Adapting Business Models in Response to Disruption - 20:00 - Leveraging Strengths and Integrating AI Technologies - 25:00 - Strategic Decision Making in Fast-Paced Environments