In the business world, where the rules have traditionally been written by men, some women have decided not just to play the game, but to rewrite the rules. Today we talk to two leaders who have challenged barriers, overcome prejudice and made a difference in their sectors: Eva Òdena Jardí and Almira Zainutdinova.
Eva Òdena Jardí is a leading figure in innovation and business growth. With more than 30 years of experience at Compass Group, she has led teams, driven business development and worked in the institutional representation of one of the most influential service companies in the world. Her focus on humanist leadership and her commitment to attracting and retaining talent have made her an inspiration for many women who want to earn a place in strategic positions.
Almira Zainutdinova has built her career at the intersection of communication, technology and education. With more than 20 years at companies such as Microsoft, Airbus and Técnicas Reunidas, she has led international teams, developed global communication strategies and explored the impact of artificial intelligence on language processes. Her passion for education and mentoring has led her to share her knowledge with younger generations, convinced that the future is built on learning and courage.
Two women, two brilliant careers, one shared reality: the road to female leadership is still full of challenges. In this conversation we look at their experiences, their strategies for breaking down barriers and the lessons that can inspire the next generation of women in business.
The challenge of being a woman in a man’s world
“Being ambitious does not rule out being generous, or being sensitive” – Eva Òdena Jardí
“Our work demands extra effort to make sure technical quality and linguistic precision go hand in hand” – Almira Zainutdinova
Being a woman in the workplace means being constantly put to the test. It is not enough to be competent; you have to prove it again and again. It is not enough to be ambitious; you have to justify it. It is not enough to lead; you have to do it twice as well to be taken seriously.
Both Eva and Almira have experienced first-hand the barriers many women face in their careers. From prejudice about female ambition to the lack of role models in leadership positions, both have had to challenge a system that is still not designed to give them the same space as their male peers.
Eva is clear about it:
“Ambition has traditionally been seen as a positive quality in men. For us, it is still something we have to justify.”
Throughout her career she has seen women expected to please everyone, avoiding firm decisions or risky strategies for fear of being seen as too tough. She has also dealt with the lack of female role models in leadership:
“We imitate the people we admire. If there are no women at the top, how can we picture our own path? The good news is that role models are multiplying. From Marta Álvarez at El Corte Inglés to Ana Patricia Botín at Santander and Marta Ortega at Inditex, we see more and more women leading large companies. And this is not just symbolic: representation matters.”
– says Eva.
Seeing women in leadership roles inspires and marks out a path for future generations. Because every woman who reaches the top does not just break glass ceilings; she builds stairs for those who come after her.
For Almira, the challenge has been making her way in male-dominated environments, especially in technical sectors. She remembers that, at the start of her career as an interpreter for an international human rights organisation, she faced misogynistic comments from figures of authority.
“The most surprising thing was that they came from official authorities. Facing that environment when I was young and had an idealistic view of the world was not easy.”
Her strategy was clear: stay composed, focus on her work and prove her worth through professionalism.
But proving yourself twice over is not enough if the rules of the game do not change. As Almira explains, within an engineering company, her team of linguists and humanities professionals has often felt like:
“An alien in New York”
Despite progress, it is still common for women’s work in technical or strategic sectors to be questioned more or valued less.
So how far are we prepared to go to challenge these stereotypes? How can we change the narrative so that the next generation does not have to face the same barriers?
How they make their way: strategies for challenging the system
If being a woman in the workplace is a challenge, leading as a woman is a daily test of endurance. Because the problem is not only reaching the top, but staying there without giving up who you are.
Eva Òdena Jardí puts it plainly:
“Work-life balance is still a struggle for women leaders. Traditional expectations still weigh on us, and the balance between our careers and domestic responsibilities is a constant challenge.”
For years she has had to juggle strategic meetings and family commitments, facing a double demand that rarely falls on her male colleagues.
The emotional weight of this pressure is real. Eva admits it honestly:
“Looking back now, I would say I handled it well. But the harsh reality is that I have had some very bad moments, feeling like a ‘bad mother’ for not being there physically when my children needed me.”
Guilt, often self-imposed, has been a burden she has learned to live with, understanding that motherhood should not be seen as an obstacle but as an opportunity to develop and enrich leadership skills.
Almira Zainutdinova has faced a different reality, but one that is just as demanding. Having built her career in technical and international environments, she had to overcome additional barriers:
“I come from another country, so family support was different. I did not have my family nearby and relied mainly on my in-laws.”
The lack of work-life balance policies did not help either:
“In my home country, sick leave to look after a sick child is paid. In Spain, I had to use my holidays to take care of him.”
On top of that, the pressure to keep a balance between personal and professional life was brutal:
“It was like ‘Squid Game’: constant tests, no margin for error and immense pressure to do everything right.”
Travelling for work while her son waited for her at home was not easy, but she found her own way to keep going without giving up what really matters.
Positioning yourself and setting limits: a matter of survival
But work-life balance is not the only battle. The fight for respect and visibility has also been key. Eva recalls a situation in which a potential business partner of her company made it clear that he did not want to deal with a woman.
“He told my managing director that he would rather negotiate with a man. My answer was clear: there was only one sales director, and it was me. Either he worked with me or we did not make a deal.”
At that moment her boss backed her up without hesitation, but how many women have had to face this kind of discrimination without any support?
For Almira, the challenge has been to show that her work in communication and linguistics within an engineering company is just as critical as any other technical area.
“We work in a mostly male environment. As linguists in a large engineering company, we sometimes feel like in the Sting song: ‘I’m an alien in New York’.”
But she has learned that the only way for her work to be valued is to prove it every day with impeccable results.
Key lesson:
- Earn respect from the first minute.
- Do not give in to the pressure to meet unrealistic expectations.
- Remember that leadership is not a question of gender, but of ability and vision.
Strategies for leading in a world that does not always accept women
Breaking barriers is not enough. To stay at the top, you have to keep reinventing yourself, prove your value again and again and, above all, refuse to give in to rules imposed by others.
Eva Òdena Jardí is clear about what her strategy has been:
“Earning respect from the first minute.”
Throughout her career she has built her leadership on three pillars: preparation, organisation and sacrifice.
“I have worked hard, I trained at IESE and, above all, I have been extremely organised. But, without a doubt, I have also had to give up a lot of time for myself.”
But real success is not individual; it is collective. For Eva, leadership is not about being the best, but about surrounding yourself with the best. Her approach is clear:
“Attracting, training and retaining talent was key. I always looked to have the best people on my team, even better than me. A leadership style that recognises that every professional brings not only hands and working hours, but also ideas, emotions and aspirations that can contribute directly to the growth of the business. Building transparent, long-term relationships has been key in my career.”
And here lies one of her great strengths: building teams that do not just work, but grow together.
Almira Zainutdinova has based her professional growth on resilience and adaptation. Her career in communication and technology has been shaped by the need to show, constantly, that her work is essential in an environment where engineering and technical skills take centre stage.
“Our work always demands extra effort to make sure technical quality and linguistic precision go hand in hand.”
Her leadership is defined by one key word: empathy.
“For me, being a leader means giving genuine support to the people around me. Making sure they feel part of the team, valued and professionally fulfilled.”
Almira believes the key to a successful team is a positive working environment, where everyone feels heard and understood.
“When people feel valued and listened to, they work with greater commitment and creativity.”
But there is something else they both share: the conviction that leadership is not only about directing, but about inspiring.
“A leader has to set an example. They have to inspire others to shine, to feel motivated by what they do,” says Eva.
Almira agrees and adds: “A true leader is not afraid to admit mistakes or to show their human side.”
Key lesson:
- Excellence is built with preparation and hard work.
- Leadership is not individualism; it is building solid teams.
- Empathy and inspiration are as important as results.
Do we lead differently? The eternal question
Women in the workplace not only have to prove they are capable; they also face a recurring question: do we lead differently from men?
Eva Òdena Jardí answers clearly:
“Women are different, emotionally speaking, and so our leadership style is not based only on achieving goals, but on how we achieve them.”
Active listening, sensitivity and empathy are traits that tend to be more present in women leaders.
“We focus on the what, the who and the how; men, on the other hand, tend to focus only on the what.”
For Almira Zainutdinova, it is less a question of gender than of approach and personality.
“Every person is a world of their own. Yes, many women tend to handle multitasking better and pay more attention to detail, but each person’s temperament and experience also play a part.”
However, she acknowledges that in her experience men tend to prefer more direct communication, without beating around the bush, while women:
“Pay special attention to nuance, because we know that details can make all the difference.”
Eva recalls that on many occasions she has faced comments about her leadership style, especially compared with her male colleagues.
“For years I had to ‘navigate’ an environment dominated by men and overcome the scepticism of people who did not see me as a strong leader.”
Almira has lived through something similar in her sector:
“As linguists inside a large engineering company, we sometimes feel we are on another planet.”
However, she has learned that, whatever the environment, the key is to stand firm in your own vision of leadership and in your confidence in what you bring.
Final thought:
- Do we lead differently? Perhaps. But that does not mean one way is better than the other.
- Female leadership is not an alternative to male leadership. It is an evolution.
- What matters is not whether we are different, but whether we are effective. And the results speak for themselves.
The values that define us
Leading is not only about making strategic decisions; it is also about guiding with solid principles. Both Eva and Almira have built their careers on values they consider non-negotiable.
“Can-do attitude, responsibility, honesty and collaboration are the pillars that have allowed me to grow and to help others grow.”
– Eva Òdena Jardí
For Almira, the key lies in ethics, curiosity and respect for diversity.
“I believe ethical values are fundamental, both at work and in life in general. Respect for other people’s cultures and traditions is essential to build an inclusive and harmonious working environment.”
– Almira Zainutdinova
Almira also highlights the importance of education and an open mind as basic principles for her professional and personal growth.
“There is always something new to learn and explore, and we must be willing to accept and adapt to differences.”
The price of success and work-life balance: can you have it all?
Professional success and personal life. Two worlds that in theory should coexist in harmony, but in reality collide constantly. Because the truth is that, for many women, reaching success means paying a very high price.
Eva Òdena Jardí does not hide it:
“Looking back now, I would tell you it was difficult but fine. But the harsh reality is that I have had some very bad moments and I have felt like a ‘bad mother’ for not spending more time with my children.”
Guilt has accompanied her throughout her career, especially at moments when her children needed her and she was caught between unavoidable professional responsibilities.
“Maternity policies are insufficient. School timetables do not match work timetables. Guilt, often self-imposed, consumes us. We feel that spending a lot of time at work makes us bad mothers. It is normal for motherhood to take up so much space in our lives that it forces us to rediscover the meaning of our existence through work.”
For Almira Zainutdinova, the struggle has been twofold: being a mother and, at the same time, building a career far from her country of origin.
“I did not have my family nearby and relied mainly on my in-laws. In my home country, sick leave to look after a sick child is paid. In Spain, I had to use my holidays to take care of him.”
But it was not only about days off: she also had to cope with the distance when work trips kept her away from her son.
Motherhood, far from being a brake, has been a test of endurance. Eva sums it up like this:
“We have to be empathetic and patient with ourselves. Trust in our ability to reinvent ourselves and to keep growing as mothers, as professionals… as people.”
Key lesson:
- There is no perfect formula for work-life balance, only difficult decisions.
- Success has a price, but it should not be guilt.
- Real change does not depend on us alone: policies and companies must also evolve.
Beyond work: what inspires us
Leadership is not built only in the office. What motivates us outside work influences how we lead, make decisions and connect with others. For Eva and Almira, their passions are more than an escape: they are a source of inspiration that shapes how they work and lead.
“The sea inspires me, and that leads me to write about things I feel. I like sailing and walking in the mountains, a good book and a good wine. I like being with my family and looking after them, and sharing moments with good friends.”
– Eva Òdena Jardí
But her passion goes beyond rest. Eva draws on ideas and experiences that push her to be a better leader.
“I love talks by people who convey motivation, enthusiasm, positivity and strength, and who speak about the power of emotions; in short, the importance of human relationships and how they strengthen or weaken us.”
For Almira, her passion lies in education and writing, two areas that have shaped her professional career.
“I am very passionate about working as an educational facilitator, because I believe education has to go beyond theoretical knowledge. Students need practical tools that allow them to face the real world.”
– Almira Zainutdinova
Writing is also her other great source of inspiration, an activity she keeps up despite her tight schedule.
“I love writing, especially about science, technology and culture. Although my schedule is tight, I always find time to write, whether in my spare time or at weekends.”
Lessons for the next generation: the time is now
If there is one thing Eva and Almira are clear about, it is that change will not come if we wait for conditions to be perfect. Female leadership does not need more excuses or more invisible barriers: it needs action.
Eva is direct:
“Do not be afraid, dare to try; motherhood is a great opportunity.”
Too often, women have grown up with the message that family and professional success are not compatible, when in fact being a mother builds skills that are essential for leadership: time management, resilience, empathy and decision-making under pressure.
But the first barrier to bring down is an internal one.
“The first to take charge are the women themselves. Nobody will do it for them.”
– Eva Òdena Jardí
Almira reinforces the same idea:
“Be brave and confident, do not be afraid to take risks and to follow your passions.”
– Almira Zainutdinova
But she also adds one fundamental piece of advice: not everything in life is work.
“Take the time to discover what really inspires you outside the business world. Find your ikigai — that balance between what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs and what you can be paid for.”
Waiting for the perfect moment is a trap. It never comes. The path is built with every step we take, with every decision we make, with every limit we dare to challenge.
“Challenge gender stereotypes. Do not let people see you as ‘less capable’ or ‘less suited’ to lead compared with men.”
If you are waiting for the ideal moment to dare, it is not going to come. Start now.
Thank you for being part of the change
The road to equality in leadership is not easy, but with women like Eva and Almira, we know we are moving forward. Their stories remind us that success is not only personal but collective: every step we take opens doors for those who come after us.
Thanks to Eva and Almira for sharing their experience, their vision and their courage. And thanks to you, for getting this far and being part of this conversation. Now it is your turn: keep challenging limits, breaking barriers and building the future we deserve.
