{"id":40064,"date":"2025-12-16T15:43:21","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T14:43:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cis-spain.com\/en\/?p=40064"},"modified":"2025-12-16T15:43:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T14:43:21","slug":"celebrating-persuasion-a-new-edition-of-the-campus-cafe-expansion-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cis-spain.com\/en\/blog\/celebrating-persuasion-a-new-edition-of-the-campus-cafe-expansion-project\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating Persuasion: A New Edition of the Campus Caf\u00e9 Expansion Project"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
At CIS University, the course <\/span>Communicating in Business<\/span><\/i> once again demonstrated that communication is not taught through concepts alone, but through actual experiences. Under the guidance of Professor Karyn Su\u00e1rez, second and third-year students took on one of the most meaningful projects of the semester: a challenge designed not only to develop effective communicators but also leaders capable of influencing with intention, ethics, and creativity.<\/span><\/p> The course introduces students to essential skills for their professional future, such as oral communication, negotiation, leadership communication, and teamwork. However, it was in the final module, focused on Persuasion and Influence, that theory truly became a transformative tool. Students explored Cialdini\u2019s six principles of persuasion, analyzing how they shape business negotiations, sales conversations, and leadership dynamics.<\/span><\/p> From this learning experience emerged the <\/span>Campus Caf\u00e9 Expansion Project<\/span><\/i>, a realistic simulation that invited teams to step into the role of the executive committee of a fictional on-campus caf\u00e9. Their mission was to develop a persuasive presentation capable of convincing a group of investors that their proposal was the most solid, creative, and strategic. It was not simply about presenting a plan, but also very much about demonstrating the ability to influence through credibility, emotion, and coherence.<\/span><\/p> The three classes took part in a friendly competition that quickly revealed the students\u2019 talent, commitment, and growing communication maturity. Presentation after presentation, Professor Su\u00e1rez observed ideas becoming bolder, arguments more robust, and an increasingly confident delivery all around. Creativity merged with strategic rigor, resulting in a series of persuasive proposals that far exceeded initial expectations.<\/span><\/p> Given the high level achieved, the professor decided to expand the recognitions and create several special award categories, each celebrating different strengths within the communication process:<\/span><\/p> The Wolf of Vel\u00e1zquez Award<\/b> The Caf\u00e9 Architects of the Year Award<\/b> The Cialdini\u2019s Professor Award<\/b> The main recognition, the Excellence in Persuasion Award, was presented to Nicol\u00e1s Antakly, Isabella Gonzalez, Rebeca Kamens, Pedro Alc\u00e1ntara Roca de Togores, and Jaime del Rey, whose presentation stood out for its impeccable persuasive structure, effective use of storytelling, seamless teamwork, and ability to inspire and convince their audience.<\/span><\/p> The purpose of this project was clear: to help students master essential competencies for any business professional. Learning how to influence ethically, communicate with clarity, and act with intention is, ultimately, learning how to lead.<\/span><\/p> As Professor Karyn Su\u00e1rez noted: <\/span>\u201cIf you learn how to persuade, you can lead people, open opportunities, and position yourself for success in any business environment.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p> A Closing That Opens New Paths<\/b><\/p> CIS University congratulates all the students who participated in this challenge for their dedication, professionalism, and outstanding performance.<\/span><\/p> Each presentation was more than an academic exercise; it was a reflection of personal growth, of the ability to connect, inspire, and embrace the challenge of communicating with authenticity.<\/span><\/p> Because at CIS University, we understand that leadership is not measured solely by results, but by the ability to turn ideas into impact, and persuasion into a tool for building projects with purpose.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" At CIS University, the course Communicating in Business once again demonstrated that communication is not taught through concepts alone, but through actual experiences. Under the guidance of Professor Karyn Su\u00e1rez, second and third-year students took on one of the most…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":40065,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_trash_the_other_posts":false,"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[162,643],"tags":[819,820,522,779,460,920,922,54,924,505,760,837,919,923,921,616,625,878],"class_list":["post-40064","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic","category-business-academic","tag-american-campus-in-madrid","tag-american-campus-in-spain","tag-american-university-in-madrid","tag-american-university-in-spain","tag-business-communication","tag-business-persuasion","tag-cialdini-principles","tag-cis-university","tag-communication-competencies","tag-educational-innovation","tag-experiential-learning","tag-international-education-in-madrid","tag-personal-skills","tag-persuasion-project","tag-pitching","tag-professional-skills-development","tag-soft-skills","tag-university-experience-in-madrid"],"yoast_head":"\n
<\/p>One Challenge, Three Classes, One Shared Goal: Persuading with Authenticity<\/h2>
<\/b> For outstanding selling techniques, persuasive vocal delivery, and confident communication.<\/span><\/p>
<\/b> For innovative design, precise conceptual planning, and highly creative visual development.<\/span><\/p>
<\/b> For the clearest, most rigorous, and most precise application of Cialdini\u2019s six principles.<\/span><\/p>
<\/p>Persuasion as a Bridge to Leadership<\/h2>