Abstract: “I will describe an attractive extension of the standard model based on quark-lepton unification. This theory is one of the few options to extend the SM gauge symmetry group via one step breaking, and given its economic matter content and its predictive capabilities, it is worth exploring. The advantages and appeal of this theory will be discussed, emphasizing on its potential to host low scale physics, consistently with experimental and finite naturalness constraints. If time permits, I will also present an idea of an appealing realization of the theory that UV-completes the simplified model for implementing the Nelson-Barr mechanism.”