Pilar Ruiz Ayuso, Head of Innovation Director at the Ibermática Institute of Innovation and Ayesa Company, was at the IMMUNE Campus a few days ago to participate in the last Dialogues accompanied by María Gregori, Innovation Manager at CaixaBank Tech, in "The Innovation Dialogue".Women's leadership in innovation".
We had the opportunity to chat with her about innovationThe role of public and private institutions in its development, and about leadership and female role models in technology.
What is "innovation" for you?
For me, innovation would be transforming ideas in wealth and business value.
How can it be boosted?
In multiple ways. Internally, there must always be accountability from the top management. In addition, we always have to rely on a framework which systematises this innovative activity so that it eventually reaches all areas of the company.
Do you think that companies in Spain are committed to innovation?
Spain does not stand out because, culturally, we have implemented innovation in our DNA. In fact, we have inherited this cultural rootedness in which we are more driven by crises than by motivation and, in this case, by innovation.
What is the role of public administrations?
For me they play a key role. They have to be the driving elements responsible for driving innovation through the multiple areas of citizenship, services, private companies... And they always have to rely on the latter to promote the innovation plan or roadmap that they have implemented, or that they want to implement.
At the professional level, how does one become an "expert" in innovation?s?
I don't like to put up "expert" signs, because in the end you are always learning. This is a constant recycling of both your profile, of your skillsand technological know-how. The world is changing, and so are technologies, and you always have to be very aligned in getting different knowledge and different sources of information to apply to that innovation. This will allow you to take that turn of the screw to apply that value to the business and be disruptive.
What would be your first steps into the world of technology?
Having a mentor is important for someone to mentor you or guide you to where you want to focus your career, because it's one thing to develop a career path, but it's another thing to have a mentor who can guide you in the right direction, because it's one thing to develop a career path. studies in STEM careers And another thing is to focus on the professional sphere within your own career, which is the complicated part: how you position yourself.
I've done engineering, but how do I go from there to being part of the innovation area, or the innovation area? business development of disruptive technologiesfor example? That step has to go hand in hand with the company being able to tutor and mentor people who are just starting out, and put that focus on their potential and what they want to do with their career.
In addition, it should be noted that they should have female role models in this field because it inspires you to really see if this is what you want to do or not.
Always rely on good practices. Talk to people who are already in the field you want to work in so that they can tell you what your strengths and weaknesses are so that you can focus on your skills and which ones you need to strengthen to reach that goal or that career.
You can watch the full interview here:
English (UK)