I had always dreamed of a life beyond the borders of my hometown, Zamora, a medieval city in Spain. As a young girl, I grew up influenced by the American dream, so when my former husband was offered a job in the United States, I saw it as an opportunity to fulfill a dream of my own. Although I felt nervous about leaving my home and quitting a promising career, I was determined to make the most of this chance to build a new life for myself.

Miami has been my home since 2014, a city that is a major tourism hub and the second-most popular destination in the country. My academic pursuits led me to double major in tourism and marketing/advertising; I also got a master’s degree in tourism management from IE Business School. After landing a sales position at AC Hotels by Marriott right after graduation, I worked for Microsoft before making the decision to remain within the travel industry. Thereafter, I worked for PortAventura, the largest theme park in Southern Europe (formerly Universal), and Value Retail.

As we settled down, I struggled to start over and find my own place in this new country. While I had exclusively worked in technology, travel and hospitality, relocating overseas was a different challenge. I had to start over; my prior background and global experience wasn’t as relevant as I had anticipated. I felt I made a mistake, but as time went on, I realized that I had strength and determination. I faced setbacks and challenges along the way but never gave up. Now as I look back on my journey, I feel a deep sense of pride in all that I accomplished.

I was determined to prove myself and I managed to get back on my feet by returning to hotels with Maritim, the most extensive hotel firm in Germany. I joined BCV, a leading social media firm for hospitality, which was later acquired by Rategain. There I discovered my way into hospitality tech and digital marketing, exactly where I wanted to rebuild my career. Hard work paid off and I was promoted to a higher position within the executive team and started a reputation of my own. Currently as chief partnerships officer at The Hotels Network, I am excited to be part of a company that shares my vision and values and that is empowering hoteliers to deliver exceptional guest experiences and drive direct bookings through innovative technology and data-driven insights.

Moving abroad is character building; you become a model of resilience while simultaneously becoming more self-aware and open-minded. It transformed me personally and professionally. I feel a deep sense of gratitude for everything that has brought me to this moment. Last year, I was honored to be recognized as one of the Top 50 Women in Travel by WINiT by GBTA and one of the Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds by HSMAI. I know that there will be more challenges ahead and more obstacles to overcome, but I have the confidence to know that I shall be ready for whatever the future has in store.