Patricia Rodriguez | Strategic Decision Making | Corporate Strategy Visionary Award

Mrs. Patricia Rodriguez | Strategic Decision Making | Corporate Strategy Visionary Award

Mrs. Patricia Rodriguez | Open University of Catalonia | Spain

Patricia Rodriguez Garcia is a senior executive with over two decades of experience in corporate development, strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and investor relations within the insurance and financial sector. She has established a strong reputation for leading strategic planning, driving acquisitions and alliances, and managing financial communication in listed and regulated environments. Throughout her career, she has been a trusted advisor to senior leadership, consistently focused on value creation, business growth, and financial discipline. Patricia combines executive acumen with academic rigor, reflecting her passion for ecosystem thinking and innovation. Professionally, she has played a central role at Grupo Catalana Occidente, a listed insurance group with a significant international footprint. She has led corporate strategy, business development, and investor relations, driving major acquisitions, post-merger integrations, and the creation of strategic alliances that expanded the group’s ecosystem. She also designed and executed corporate strategic plans that opened new opportunities in areas such as health, senior care, and home ecosystems, while overseeing significant debt issuances and capital structure optimization. Earlier in her career, she gained valuable experience in corporate finance at Riva y Garcia and in financial planning at Parxet. Through her dual engagement in industry and academia, Patricia continues to shape both practice and knowledge at the intersection of corporate strategy, innovation, and artificial intelligence. She is recognized for her ability to align business growth with technological advancement, ensuring long-term value creation in complex and evolving corporate ecosystems.

Profiles : ORCID | Google Scholar | Linked In 
Featured Publications :

Rodriguez-Garcia, P., Li, Y., Lopez-Lopez, D., & Juan, A. A. (2023). Strategic decision making in smart home ecosystems: A review on the use of artificial intelligence and Internet of things. Internet of Things, 22, 100772.

Rodriguez-Garcia, P., Vidal, A. F., & Santo Tomás, M. J. R. (2010). La gestión de riesgos. In Estudio sobre el sector asegurador en España 2010: los aspectos cualitativos

Rodriguez-Garcia, P., Carracedo, P., Lopez-Lopez, D., Juan, A. A., & Martin, J. A. (2024). Computer-supported strategic decision making for ecosystems creation. Computers, 13(12), 322.

Rodriguez-Garcia, P., Lopez-Lopez, D., & Martin Solano, J. A. (2024). Artificial intelligence in marketing strategic decisions via product portfolio optimization. In Proceedings of the Decision Science Alliance International Summer Conference (pp. 72–83).

Rodriguez-Garcia, P., Juan, A. A., Martin, J. A., Lopez-Lopez, D., & Marco, J. M. (2025). AI-driven optimization of project portfolios in corporate ecosystems with synergies and strategic factors. Expert Systems with Applications, 129593.

Mehdi Ajalli | Strategic Decision-Making | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Mehdi Ajalli | Strategic Decision-Making | Best Researcher Award 

Assistant Professor at Bu-Ali Sina University | Iran 

Dr. Mehdi Ajalli is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Management at Bu-Ali Sina University, Iran. He holds a Ph.D. and Postdoctoral degree in Industrial Management from the University of Tehran. A distinguished scholar and member of the National Foundation for Elites of Iran, Dr. Ajalli has published over 150 articles in prestigious journals, including ScienceDirect, Springer, and Scopus/ISC-indexed publications. His expertise spans industrial engineering, supply chain management, decision-making techniques, and fuzzy logic, with extensive international exposure through conference presentations in multiple countries.

Profiles

Scopus

ORCID

Educational Background

Dr. Mehdi Ajalli holds a strong academic background in industrial engineering and management. He earned his B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering, followed by a M.Sc. in Industrial Engineering. He then pursued advanced studies at the University of Tehran, where he obtained his Ph.D. in Industrial Management and subsequently completed his Postdoctoral Research in Industrial Management, further strengthening his expertise in the field.

Professional Experience

Dr. Mehdi Ajalli is currently an Assistant Professor at the Department of Management, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran. He is also a recognized member of the National Foundation for Elites and Brilliant Talents of Iran.

Dr. Ajalli has actively contributed to academia and research, particularly in Industrial Engineering, Industrial Management, Supply Chain Management, Decision-Making Techniques, and Fuzzy Logic Applications.

He has published extensively in ScienceDirect, Springer, and high-ranking ISC and Scopus-indexed journals, showcasing significant research contributions in his domain. He has also presented his work at numerous international conferences across Europe and Asia, including Italy, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Turkey, and Thailand.

Research Interests

  • Supply Chain Management & Logistics Optimization

  • Decision-Making Techniques & Fuzzy Logic Applications

  • Industrial Engineering & Industrial Management

  • Operations Research and Decision Analytics

  • Production & Operations Management

Publications

Conceptual modeling of determining factors in the assessment of sustainability and resilience of the supply chain: a study of rubber industry suppliers in Iran

Year: 2024 | Citation: 2

The optimization model for allocating reward to employees using GAHP and cluster analysis

Year: 2024 | Citation: 2

Conclusion

Dr. Mehdi Ajalli stands out as a leading academician and researcher in industrial management and supply chain optimization. His extensive scholarly contributions, innovation in decision-making methodologies, and recognition by elite institutions make him a deserving recipient of the Best Researcher Award. With continued efforts toward global collaboration and industry integration, his work holds the potential to achieve even greater international acclaim. Dr. Ajalli’s research excellence and dedication to advancing his field set a strong foundation for future achievements and impactful contributions to academia and industry alike.