As People Area Director at Asproseat, she manages all actions related to the people that use their services as well as those who work in their centres, many of whom have intellectual, physical, sensory or mental disabilities. As she explains in this interview, their success is also her own.
How would you define a leader with a purpose?
In my opinion, a leader with a purpose is a professional who is aligned with the values of the organisation and believes in what they do. They are aware of the value they contribute to the organisation and the community in which they operate.
How would you define a business with a purpose?
It is a company that responds to the needs of its clients, but also anticipates their future needs. It is a business that helps people to grow in both the professional and personal context and acts responsibly towards its suppliers, so as to guarantee their loyalty and an optimal supply chain. And last but not least, it is a company that responds to the challenges of the society it operates in.
How can leaders and professionals contribute to a better world and the common good?
Our daily actions, both on a personal and professional level, can transform and improve organisations and the society we live in. I am not referring to grand gestures but small day to day actions in our personal and professional lives that can change the world. At Asproseat, for example, we work with and for people. We work towards a fairer and more egalitarian society, which helps people who need it the most.
What advice would you give leaders to be able to have this mindset and include it in their daily lives?
I would recommend that they work for organisations with a purpose that is aligned with their personal values. They will not only enjoy their work more but they will also contribute to transforming their environment. Team leaders must have a multi-faceted vision to adapt the company’s reality to future opportunities and motivate employees towards the same purpose. It is important to do this coherently, consistently and with great humility as well as strive for both professional and personal excellence.
What is your purpose?
My purpose in life is to consider the daily challenges I face as opportunities and be able to incorporate this positive vision of the future into the present. My purpose is also to continue growing as a person in each of my roles and areas of responsibility and carry out small actions that contribute to transforming life around me and making it better.
What are the main challenges that you face every day?
There are two main challenges: on the one hand it is about finding the balance between our financial and sustainability objectives as an organisation with those of society, the environment and growth. On the other hand, we need to respond to the needs of the people in our organisation: needs which are complex and relate to mental health, diversity, financial and family issues and require a synchronised approach of different actions. We work with them throughout their lives,in school and training centres, until they reach adulthood and old age.
Why is Asproseat a business with a purpose?
Asproseat is a business with a purpose because it has a social purpose. It was founded over 40 years ago to respond to the needs of people with disabilities who had no job prospects. Over the years we have responded to the needs of these people during their lives. Our aim is to help people improve and as a consequence, improve society. Our purpose goes beyond the economic aspect. We respond to the needs of people in vulnerable situations who need support. We do this by offering different services: in education, special job centres, occupational centres, residences, trying to focus on a person-centred approach at every stage of their lives.
What have been your achievements at Asproseat in terms of purpose?
I have had the opportunity to develop my professional career in organisations which have a social purpose. My achievements are related to all the achievements made by the people we work with; all those projects we have been able to carry out in response to a specific need has been a personal success. There is no better purpose than being able to contribute to the wellbeing of others. This is what we do at Asproseat.
How did the Executive MBA at EADA help you to grow professionally and pursue a purpose of contributing to a better world?
The Executive MBA at EADA was a transformation for me. It was a learning process involving change and growth. I gained a holistic vision of organisations and I became aware of the importance of having data which I could use to develop objectives and strategies and make decisions. I was able to talk to experts about my personal and professional concerns and I had the support of great classmates, who were learning just like me. Through hard work we made a cohesive team who respected one another and I am still great friends with them today. It was a great experience and I would recommend it to anyone.Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
I would like to help Asproseat respond to the current needs of society and the community we work in, with new resources and in cooperation with other entities and organisations that share our purpose. We have a logistics warehouse, we are doing e-commerce and working with local councils to make first mile deliveries, which also contributes to sustainability. We are already working on the next challenge for residential services for people with disabilities, which is a manifest and unmet need as well as providing care and services for older people despite their needs being greater than our services can offer. They are exciting projects and great challenges given that the current situation is extremely complex, but we have the necessary motivation and experience to succeed.
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