UNIC: Tell us about your daily habits that keep you inspired and motivated.
Montse: The entertainment business is a very exciting and dynamic one, albeit now in forced hibernation due to the pandemic. The fact that you manage different types of content through the different movies you release pushes you to keep up to date with consumers’ needs and look for new ideas and opportunities to engage with them. The need for innovation is the strongest motivating factor for me and I get inspired every day by my team who shares my appetite to think outside the box and go a step further in every project.
UNIC: Looking back at your career journey, what are you most proud of?
Montse: On a general level, the non-stop learning process I apply to my life. Every position I have taken has forced me to learn more about the business, both from inside the company as well as outside it. The mentoring programme is proof of this. The young people I talk to tend to think that graduating from university is the end of student life and finally they got it! From my experience, it is just the beginning and it has no end; there is always something to learn, something to be better at, which pays off professionally. I got my PhD degree in my 40’s and learning has not finished yet.
On a more particular level, I have been involved in the release of some of the most iconic and successful movies of the past twenty years, from Titanic, Star Wars and Avatar to the smaller, more specialised ones. Every one of them has left an imprint on me that I am proud of.
UNIC: What were the biggest challenges you encountered throughout your leadership journey?
Montse: Working in multinational companies forces you to stand up and express your ideas in front of many, and different, people. I was always challenging myself to do so and to get out of the comfortable, silent corner in order to get my ideas considered, despite of language barriers and cultural differences.
UNIC: What are the key insights you know now that you wished you knew at the beginning of your career?
Montse: I would suggest to face every project, job, endeavour with a very holistic approach, looking at it from every possible angle to learn and progress. The mentoring programme is a great way to deliver ideas and insights to mentees that will help them to move faster and stronger throughout their career journey.
UNIC: What is your leadership style?
Montse: I defend and practice a very collaborative leadership style. I share as much information as I can with my peers as I trust in their ability to use it correctly and I know what the benefits of communication are in order to be more efficient within any organisation. I welcome, respect and look for comments from everyone in the organisation, as diversity is what enriches a team. I also think that leaders cannot ask their teams to roll up their sleeves if they are not willing to do so first - I follow that saying.
UNIC: Did you have any mentors in your career? Who has been a mentor to you?
Montse: I did not have one single mentor “per se”, I had many. I would consider anyone I learnt anything from along my career as a mentor and some had more impact than others but they all contributed in a way towards tailoring my professional style. They have ranged from inspiring senior managers, to my close peers, key friends and my team.
UNIC: You are one of the pioneer mentors of the UNIC Women's Cinema Leadership Programme. What was the highlight for you as a mentor in our pilot?
Montse: It was a very rewarding experience to share my experiences with a young and energetic woman willing to learn more and add value to her organisation. I very much appreciate it when someone wants to learn, grow and participate. We took a very practical approach to the project, with a clear path and goals to achieve. And I did learn from her as well, which was a truly rewarding experience.
UNIC: What advice do you have for current mentors and mentees?
Montse: Take it seriously, it’s worth it. Define your goals from the beginning and go for it. The exchange of experiences will make it easy. It is a project as the ones we deal with every day; it needs a timeline, an action plan and a review afterwards. Enjoy the experience!