“I bet on my professional life because I knew it was an investment”

“The engineer is a great composer like Beethoven. He must translate his thoughts into concrete actions for the good of humanity”, this is how the new episode of Get ready, we’re leavingwhose protagonist engineer Arancha Priede, commercial director of IFEMA. “This phrase comes neither more nor less than from a POTUS, that is to say from a President of the United States, Herbert Hoover. As we are literate, I believe that engineering, Charo, imposes on us as much of impact”, says Cruz Sánchez de Lara before formally introducing his guest.

In introduction, Charo Izquierdo, director of Enclave ODS, wants to start by explaining what IFEMA is. “It’s a place where almost four million people come every year and where we are developing nearly 600 events of all types of businesses, from construction to environmental fairs, leisure fairs, concerts, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Fitur, ARCO, etc. We are always full,” says the guest.

As this podcast wants to deepen the most personal profile of those who visit it, Cruz asks them, among all these events, which is their favorite. “Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, I can’t help it, I like fashion and I believe that the contribution we make to this sector is fundamental. Another impressive project is Fruit Attraction, because we are references in the world,” replies Arancha.

Before arriving at IFEMA in 2022, Priede, a roads, canals and ports engineer, worked nationally and internationally in companies such as Dragados. “How did this change happen?” Charo Izquierdo wants to know. “I spent around 20 years in the construction industry.notably by carrying out infrastructure concession projects, notably toll motorways in Spain and abroad. My first move was to Clear Channel, an American outdoor advertising company. I stayed there for about two years and it was from there that I began to diversify,” he explains.

The vice-president of EL ESPAÑOL takes the opportunity to say something to her audience: “To all the girls who are listening to us, this is a very important message, because you realize that As an engineer you can be almost anything. In other words, girls who haven’t yet thought about engineering as an option and mothers listening to us who still don’t know should instill STEM careers in them, because it’s wonderful. »

Cruz reflects on the empowerment that women themselves build through their work and wants to hear her guests’ thoughts. “GOOD I feel empowered. You train and learn to take risks throughout your life and your professional journey. At first you are very afraid to make a decision and you say: “Mother, if I make a mistake, what will happen? But then you say, “Well, out of five I take, one might come out bad, but four come out on top.” “Then you start to not be afraid anymore, because in the end, if something goes wrong, you correct it and that’s it”, confesses Arancha. Every mistake is a learning experience.

The world of STEM careers continues to become more masculine, although much progress has been made. She recounts her experience herself: “Thanks to my professional background and my studies, I’m still used to being in a man’s world where you still have to prove a little more or, at least, that you are like them. Because at first, they look at you as if to say “what is she doing here?” “. In my class, there were eight or ten women out of 200. The job makes you hard, because life passes and you realize that you have to have a lot of strength and be very courageous. Otherwise, you won’t achieve anything. »

Cruz intervenes to ask him if he was one too at 30 years old. “I have always been very courageousbut before, I thought about things a lot more. Every time I went to do something, I appreciated it more, I did a thousand calculations. “I do everything with numbers, because numbers don’t lie, they are transparent.”

The reflection continues: “I’ve worked with men all my life, but At Ifema, they are almost all women. And you have to help them, because there is a time in your life, especially when you have young children, where this support is very important in your professional career. This is when many give up because it doesn’t bring them anything. »

In his personal case, the engineer confirms having had a lot of support for conciliation: “I was lucky. I am an only child and my parents helped me a lot. I have three children and among them two twin girls, it was like the shock of my personal life. At first, because I lived very close to my parents, I continued to travel and live my normal life because they took care of it. “I always bet on my professional life, because I knew I was making an investment.”

Today, he has the satisfaction of seeing how his children understand him: “Children greatly appreciate having a professional mother and they are super proud of you, of what you teach them through your example. “It has brutal value.”

Cruz Sánchez de Lara quotes a well-known phrase: “Men are afraid of powerful women” and wants to know if his guest agrees. “Not at all, I think it’s the opposite. It’s all a shared effort. And I am lucky to have a wonderful husband who has always helped me. a lot and he understood me. “Same, if I had had another one, I don’t know what would have happened.”

The debate cannot end without talking about sustainability, since Charo Izquierdo, as director of Enclave ODS, considers it an essential subject. Arancha, through her position at IFEMA, is very committed. “We are taking a lot of measures at all levels, because sustainability is not only environmental, but also economic, social and we are very involved. In addition, we are experiencing a moment of important transformation and in the future we will have the Formula 1.” “

The podcast ends with an anecdote from the protagonist related to flamenco and with a beautiful declaration: “We love courageous women.”