"Fields such as AI and Machine Learning are now key to differentiating companies and optimising their operations and resources". Daniel Garcia Fernandez

Digital transformation requires the continual updating of specific and multi-disciplinary know-how, the capacity to permanently question an organisation's model and implement bold internal changes, as well as a holistic, global vision of the business, technological and socio-economic context; a context which, moreover, is advancing at breakneck speed.

Daniel García, an economist and graduate of International Business Studies, currently holds the post of Iberia Master Trainer in the retail sector, specifically for Microsoft, via beonit. He was able to access this job thanks to the training he completed via a Santander Scholarship in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a globally renowned educational institution dedicated to developing innovative leaders equipped to address complex issues at a global scale.

In this complex and dynamic setting, a professional profile with competencies such as his is vital to guide any organisation through the process of integrating new digital technologies in a way that makes them competitive by offering value to their clients and addressing their needs in the short and long term. In this interview, Daniel shares his career path with us: a road he could never have suspected would take him so far, and one that continues to offer excellent prospects for the future.

At the age of 23, you've had a remarkable trajectory. What is the motivating factor that underpins it all?

Ever since I was 10, economics have played a part in my life because the 2008 crisis had a serious impact on my family. It was that experience that led me to study a degree in Economics and International Business. In fact, I had the opportunity to study at the University of Alcalá, a public university, thanks to the scholarships for academic excellence that I was granted by the Ministry of Education.

You're currently working for Microsoft: what are your responsibilities? 

The purpose of my job is to provide leading, cutting-edge solutions and address the need for information of sellers and consumers of technological products and services.  So I work in training, events and social media management for Microsoft Iberia as Master Trainer & Evangelism Lead. 

I coordinate a team of 3 trainers and I liaise with international training teams and internal Microsoft staff such as Category Channel. Translated to the day-to-day reality, I conduct the planning and research for training at retailers, producers and other types of clients; I build relations with partners and organise communications and events with the main Microsoft departments: marketing, sales, trade, etc. 

Why did you decide to add to your qualifications?

Nowadays, and especially in certain sectors, having a degree isn't enough to stand out on the labour market, nor does it equip you to be able to provide the optimal solution to a client; a measurable solution and, where possible, one based on Agile methodologies and SMART objectives. 

Do you believe that studying at a university such as MIT has given you the necessary skills to stand out in the business world?

It hadn't occurred to me in my wildest dreams that I would be able to study at one of the world’s most prestigious universities, because the course fees are very high and access is not easy. Without a doubt, it has been the perfect addition to my university degree. I've demonstrated that with a strong will, eagerness and effort, I can succeed in whatever I set out to achieve.

This training has allowed me to acquire and expand the relevant know-how in a new field that had always interested me, allowing me to enter the tech sector in a more professional way, unlocking my full potential.  

Meanwhile, I have been able to set up working groups on engaging topics such as the implications of digital transformation and future scenarios such as the metaverse. In this sense, it has not only prepared me to become part of the team at two of the Big Four and be able to offer solutions to beonit, the company I'm currently working for that provides services for companies like Microsoft. Nowadays, companies realise that having completed such training, I can add value right from the start in fields as diverse as an Innovation Department, Business Intelligence, product design, etc. 

How has that experience proved relevant to doing your job?

Having had the privilege of being trained by the leading experts and speakers in digital transformation for public and private entities gives you a theoretical and practical foundation that translates into improved results for the company you work for. Subjects such as artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning are key to differentiating companies and optimising their operations and resources, an optimisation that they can reinvest in innovation to tackle new scenarios. 

Honestly, without that training I wouldn't have been able to apply so soon for a position like this in such a large-scale project. By participating on the course together with professionals from different fields and countries, I’ve been able to learn from them and apply to my daily work the technologies and methodologies that companies such as PwC, SAS or Deloitte are using. Likewise, you also learn to see the world from a different perspective, to take a more practical approach, question theories and procedures in favour of innovation and the development of each individual.

So, what are your plans for the future?

I'd like to return to the field of strategic consulting to help clients achieve maximum returns on their investments (ROI). At the end of the day, in terms of both training and vocation, I'm a consultant. I also hope to start an MBA and get a PhD in Economics.

As you can see, this experience has helped Daniel to develop the necessary skills and abilities as well as the emerging innovative tools most in-demand at companies in the tech sector. Enhancing your innate professional skills and improving those you lack through training will prove crucial if you are to increase your chances of realising your career goals. So that you can develop your professional skills, Banco Santander, as part of its contribution to society, is spearheading the Santander Open Academy, through which it offers the chance to train at the hand of prestigious institutions.

To achieve this aim, it focuses on retraining and continuing education, key concepts to accelerate your career growth through lifelong learning in progressive subjects such as technology, languages, studies, research, soft skills, practice and female leadership.

If you'd like access to a range of training programmes to give you a cutting edge on the job market, check out the Santander Open Academy website and develop the skills your CV needs to stand out and achieve your career goals. This is your chance!