RSC Café at Hotel Sauce: Interview with Juan Royo
Corporate social responsibility is one of the most interesting concepts that we have had the opportunity to learn about in recent times. A conference on the subject was recently held in Saragossa and we had the opportunity to celebrate in My Favorite ROOM one of the coffee gatherings that our friends at Social In Way hold periodically.
In this talk we talk about social responsibility, but also many other things. Without a doubt, having speakers as interesting as our guest in this interview makes these types of proposals much more suggestive. The protagonist of this edition of Interviews is an economist, comics critic, social media addict and a CSR personality. We are pleased to introduce you to Juan Royo Abenia.
We held a coffee gathering on Corporate Social Responsibility. Since we learned about the subject we have been able to discover a fascinating concept. Can you briefly define for our readers what CSR is?
A more transparent, efficient, effective and sustainable way to manage any corporation (company, public administration, NGO, union…). Thinking in the long term rather than the short term.
How does a comic critic and economist become interested in this topic?
As an economist because it is the only way to do business in which everyone wins. Speculation when there are only speculators is a zero-sum game. What one gains, another loses. On the other hand, with CSR everyone wins: company, worker, customer, supplier, environment, local community… And as a comic critic… I observe a lot of CSR behaviors in many superheroes. Spiderman, for example. He could use his powers for his own benefit and yet he uses them to help Humanity altruistically.
Do you think CSR is reaching civil society in the way it should?
Little by little. There is no doubt that we have made a lot of progress by bursting financial bubbles (dot com, subprime, public debt…)
And how did the idea of these coffee gatherings come about?
At first it was an informal café but Alicia Gracia and Iván Ordovás have established it as a meeting place in the world of CSR, making sure to contact speakers, focus debates, etc.
You are tremendously active on social networks. They have become an essential tool for the dissemination of all kinds of events. What would CSR be without social networks?
My thing with social networks is almost a vice (laughs). But there is no doubt that it is an essential communication tool, both for corporate information and the opinions of our clients. In RRSS you don’t have to be alone to tell things, you also have to listen!
You are known for your work in disseminating the world of comics and your collaboration with the Saragossa Comic Fair. Is there creative and business activity in this field in the city?
Saragossa and the authors from Saragossa (and the rest of Aragon) have become a national and international reference. The Comic Book Fair, of course, but also specialized bookstores, fanzines, magazines, publishing houses, printing presses… In other words, an emerging industry with an excellent future.
This is a section about travel and the city of Saragossa. What is the strangest thing that has happened to you in a hotel?
A friend invited my family to spend a weekend in Prague. We stayed at the President Hotel and its manager was also a friend of mine so he put us up in the suite. My wife and I still laugh when we remember the surprised look on my son Miguel’s face (he was seven years old) when he saw it!
What absurd object cannot be missing from her suitcase?
I’m afraid I’m not very original when it comes to packing…
As a true Saragossa native, tell our readers why you think they should come to see the city of Saragossa? What is there in Saragossa that is not found anywhere else?
El Pilar, of course. And La Aljafería, a Muslim palace so far north is something incredible. I also always take visitors to the Teatro Principal to see a play and the Romareda or Príncipe Felipe to see Real Saragossa or CAI Saragossa if they are playing at home.
