Raquel Peula, Director of the Department of Promotion and Admissions at UIC Barcelona, has been named one of the 50 most influential female executives in Spain in the 15th edition of the prestigious Santander W50 programme. This initiative, backed by Banco Santander in collaboration with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), aims to provide high-performance leadership training to women in leadership roles, helping them refine their management style and expand their international professional networks. The recognition follows a rigorous selection process in which over 850 candidates from across Spain were considered.
Peula highlighted the value of this experience and the privilege of sharing it with other high-level professional women. "Meeting the rest of the winners – extraordinary, enthusiastic and committed women – has made me even more aware of the significance of this programme. It is an honour to be part of a community that promotes and highlights female leadership with excellence and authenticity,” she remarked.
Female leadership and future challenges
The recognition day featured a roundtable discussion with some of Spain’s most influential business leaders. Alejandra Kindelán, president of the Spanish Banking Association; Irene Cano, general director of Meta Iberia; Nathalie Picquot, corporate marketing director of the Santander Group; and Patricia Torres, global head of Sustainable Finance Solutions at Bloomberg, shared their thoughts on leadership, the importance of delegating responsibilities, the balance between caution and boldness in decision-making, and the need to make the work of teams more visible.
According to Peula, “The debate took place in an atmosphere of honesty and generosity, and we naturally addressed sensitive topics that affect all of us but are rarely discussed in such forums, such as work-life balance and the importance of seeking professional support at certain times.”
One more step towards equality in business leadership
According to the Women in Business report by Grant Thornton UK, women hold just one-third of leadership positions, and at the current pace, gender parity in mid-sized companies will not be reached until 2053. In this context, initiatives like the Santander W50 programme are crucial for connecting, supporting, and empowering women executives worldwide.
The winners will have the opportunity to take part in an exclusive female leadership training course at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). This programme provides tools to enhance leadership skills, coaching sessions, and international networking with a community of over 800 women leaders from 11 countries.
Raquel Peula is thrilled to be part of this global community and believes that the experience will allow her to “continue promoting transformational leadership and contribute to a global network of women committed to excellence.” Eager to take on this new challenge, Peula will continue her work to raise the visibility and recognition of female talent in the educational environment in which she operates.
