She arrived at Aena three decades ago by chance, because María José Cuenda, its General Director of Commercial and Real Estate, had always been captivated by the stock market since she was a child. She studied Economics and Business Studies in Badajoz and immediately after graduating she decided to leave her comfort zone and move to Madrid, first to complete her training with an MBA at the IE, and later, on the advice of a friend, to apply for the entry exams to the public company that, to her delight, is listed on the Ibex 35.
Now, María José, recipient of the #YoSoyTraveler Director of the Year award, spends her days steering strategies that affect all of us who at some point step foot in any airport within the Aena network, the world’s largest airport operator by passenger numbers. María José, together with her team, defines and manages the entire retail and gastro offering, but she is also responsible for the modernization of car parks and the VIP Services. Right in one of these is where we find ourselves, in the Premium Lounge at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, a private space with direct access on foot to the aircraft, which handles more than 300 services a month at an airport that sees around 200,000 people passing through each day.
This place reflects the leader’s passion for furnishings and attention to detail, which also, on a larger scale, is evident in the terminals, through which she plans to move this summer on a trip to her hometown of Badajoz and to Ibiza, “I love the heat, good weather and the beach,” and once a year she always heads to Sri Lanka, one of her favorite destinations, where in Ayurvedic centers such as Barberyn she finds calm: “I think it’s the most wonderful place, the island, the people… I return recharged.” But ahead of that, in this room, we discuss leadership, how important it is to surround yourself with a good team “without dark clouds,” and why, despite record traveler traffic, we don’t want to stop traveling.
