She has worked in Colombia, Brazil and Spain, and is passionate about salsa, but also marketing. She has an outstanding knowledge of communication strategies, but she is currently excelling more thanks to her ability to analyse data and put them to use to achieve business goals. Diana Sofía Cabrera, a graduate of EAE Business School’s MBA, is a perfect example of the dynamic, determined and courageous profile that characterizes our School. Therefore, we decided to contact her to find out more about her personally, her professional experience and her time at the School
Would you like to know what she told us? Read on to find out:
Diana Sofía Cabrera
Egresada del MBA de EAE Business School
Graduate of EAE Business School’s MBA
Diana, tell us about yourself. Where are you from? What are your passions? Which professional areas do you work in?
I am Colombian. Specifically, I come from Cali, which is also known as the world capital of salsa. I have been dancing since I was 6 years old and I loved it so much that I even became a salsa dancer. However, I ended up specialized in marketing because I love it even more. I am a marketing and advertising professional, specializing in digital marketing. I have an MBA from EAE Business School. I have worked with products and services in different industries, always connecting the commercial side of things with marketing.
Is advertising the key to success?
Advertising is important because it is the way we communicate our message. The channel of dissemination is essential for reaching people in the right way at the right time. However, the best advertising needs a strategy. In my opinion, the key is to focus all your actions towards a defined goal and strategy. This enables you to join the forces of all the areas of the organization to achieve successful results.
In your opinion, what do you need to succeed in the professional world nowadays?
You need to be adaptable and proactive. Nowadays, organizations also have to adapt to the different markets and people, so getting used to change, different cultures and even new strategies is essential for a successful professional career. In my experience, this has to go hand in hand with a proactive approach because, with constant change, things are no longer done the same way as before and organizations need people that take the initiative and generate new ideas. Therefore, something as simple as improving a process is crucial when generating value in a company.
Do you think that taking a Master helps to achieve this success? How did the MBA that you took at EAE Business School influence you and your preparation?
The MBA at EAE Business School has been decisive for my professional career because I learned about the behaviour of companies in different international settings, gaining in-depth insight into various areas (finance, legal, human resources, control and management, etc.). The real, up-to-date case studies enabled me to gain a global and strategic vision of an organization.
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You now work at Grupo Planeta. Tell us about this professional challenge. What are your duties?
I currently work at Planeta Formación y Universidades, the education division of Grupo Planeta. It is an international higher education network of twenty-three academic institutions in Spain, Andorra, Francia, Italy, North Africa, the USA and Colombia, so I consider it quite a big achievement to be working here.
Right now, my responsibilities are based in the area of business intelligence, specifically in admissions and marketing. My duties consist of studying the Latin American and Spanish markets, where the 4 brands that I work with operate. I search for insights and opportunities for growth or improvement, analysing the benchmark and our business in figures.
In your time in the job so far, what have you found hardest and most interesting?
The most interesting aspect, yet at the same time the most challenging, has been converting the data and figures from different countries into conclusions and actions that help to grow and strengthen the brands and the business. It has been really rewarding to develop this analytical capacity that lets me to move from a macro to micro perspective, transforming data into actions.
You have worked in various companies. What is the most important thing about gaining experience?
I have worked in different companies because I like travelling and, based on my experience of living in three countries (Colombia, Brazil and Spain), in my opinion, the most important benefit has been observing the different ways of working in each company, how they interact with the different markets and focus their strategies. I really like having had the opportunity to work and learn in each of them, as they all contributed in some way towards my personal and professional development.
Why is education important?
Without education, I couldn’t have done half of what I have achieved. Education is obviously fundamental because we have to develop the knowledge that accompanies experience. Moreover, getting an education in an international setting changes and expands your perspectives in terms of companies and markets nowadays.
Which services and events that you used or attended in your time at EAE Business School would you highlight? Why?
I always enjoyed the workshops with companies, when we analysed a real case study that we tried to resolve in groups, followed by questions and presentations. They are also really great for networking, because you meet people from other masters and employees from the companies. In fact, it was at one such events that I obtained my internship.
Do you have any recommendations for people taking their first steps in the professional world?
Be proactive, whether you are at university or in your first job. If you are studying, your university is the first step towards finding work. Pay attention to events, trade fairs and other activities. Simply taking part and networking really helps. If you are in your first job, keep calm but show that you are willing. Observe and learn everything well. As you develop, you will be able to contribute ideas that, although they may be small, will be very welcome if they help to improve or innovate.