How long have you been with Telefónica and what is your assessment of your time here?
In a very serious meeting at my previous company, the owner announced to all the workers that due to financial problems they were going to start laying off staff on a LIFO (last in first out) basis. I was the last one in, so I updated my CV and applied for the Telefónica scholarship. And today it has been more than 19 years since I joined this great family of ours as an intern (almost four lustrums… mother mine of the beautiful love!). I value these years here as the best of my life, just like that. What I have experienced here and continue to experience here is unique, unrepeatable.
Is there any project at Telefónica that you feel particularly satisfied with or proud of?
Yes, there are several… however, one moment comes to mind that didn’t even last five minutes, but it meant something very special to me. For 12 years I worked in People Selection and Talent Management. One day, while I was having a machine coffee in the office, a colleague came in and gave me a box of chocolates. I was quite perplexed as I don’t usually get chocolates, to be honest. He explained that years ago, after interviewing him and not being selected for a position, I had given him feedback and recommended that he take a different career direction. He listened to me and it had gone so well that he wanted to thank me for it. Moments like this make everything else worthwhile. Working for and with people can be wonderful. I try never to forget that our work can have a great impact on others.
What do you think Telefónica has contributed to society?
As that wonderful Movistar ad from the turn of the century said, “the important thing is to be able to talk”. And deep down I think that if you sum it up very, very, very much, that’s what we contribute. We connect people’s lives, which I would say is our mission.
Where do you see Telefónica in the future?
In the place it deserves, leading this permanent digital transformation that never seems to end. We are part of the solution AND YOU KNOW IT.
Could you live without a mobile phone?
I’m working on it, in fact, to my bosses’ disgrace I occasionally forget it at home. Even so, when I look at my average daily mobile phone usage, it scares me considerably. If I spent that time learning Basque, I’d have a B2 level by now. Go Patxi!
Help us solve one of the great enigmas of humanity: the potato omelette… With onion or without onion?
Zero enigmas, the omelette WITH ONION ALWAYS. Please, what kind of psychopath doesn’t put onion in the omelette? Sorry if anyone is offended, but you have touched on a very sensitive subject for me.
Nominate another partner to appear in this section
First I want to thank my colleague Nacho del Río because without him I wouldn’t be here (in this interview, don’t get uppity Nacho). I nominate the great Roberto Prada Rabazas, a Telefónica great and a better person. Probably one of the best bosses I have ever had.
