Isabel Sánchez (Delaviuda): «You have to take care of the mind, I meditate every morning»

Isabel Sánchez (Málaga, 1970) took in 2022 the relief of Manuel López as the CEO of Delaviuda Confectionery Group, the company born of a small Toledo confectionery in 1972. The group took a historical step by putting the front of someone outside the owner family. Bachelor of Law from the University of Navarra, Sánchez believes that he has earned professional respect both inside and outside the company. What felt the first day when he entered the door as new CEO? Answer. He gave me the feeling that he entered differently from the one that had been entering previous days, perhaps because of the weight of responsibility and not disappointing. Q. Did the impostor had a syndrome? Well, it always gives you a little vertigo, but no. Do you know why? Because Manuel [López]who nominated me, who is our current non -executive president, knew me very well and he loves the company more than his life. That gave me a lot of peace of mind because he knew about my knowledge and experience, I knew how I am and my values, which, if I had chosen it is because I thought I was able to take the company to the best place. Q. Within the company it has felt supported. Also? A. Well, I have had to demonstrate inside and outside. Because maybe I was not in the pools to hold the position. It is true that nobody thought that Manuel was going to step back. Fortunately I think that today I do not have to demonstrate so much, I have valued those things that I have contributed to the group and that I am contributing, and I have some leadership already deserved. Q. Did the call caught him by surprise? A. Yes, yes. The proposal caught me by surprise. Manuel is a young person, you do not think that he cannot be in charge of a company for the age of age. Q. The question is forced. Do you like nougat? A. I really like nougat, but I'm not a fan. Q. Between the classics of a lifetime and the new flavors, which one stays? A. I'm going to be very sincere, I'm chocolate, it's what I like most about the sweet. But if I have to choose a nougat, I keep the classics, the hard and the soft, they are spectacular. A good hard nougat and a good soft nougat, such as ours. Q. Do you eat nougat all year? I say it because one of its challenges and the industry is to dissecting the product. The de -stationalization of the nougat is being done through retails, from stores outside the Christmas season, they are all year. But here I want to clarify something: these stores are tourist, the nationals do not eat nougat all year. We sell all year, but the large percentage of sale comes from foreign tourists. Q. Doesn't it eat nougat all year? A. Yes, as a nougat all year, but because I have it very at hand, here in the office there are everywhere, but I am not going to buy it expressly. Maybe I want to eat a hard nougat day, but it is because I have it. Do you get to reconcile? A. I think so, that I get it quite well. I do it organizing, that is, on weekends I organize all the things we have during the week, such as taking a child to the doctor or a tutoring. How do you take care, do some sport? R. For me the sport is sacred. But always, it is something fundamental in my life, since I was a child. Now the sport that most practices is to play the paddle minimum two or three times a week. And then I do yoga twice a week and I try to do pilates too. Q. Does that hobby come for something? R. Because we like it. In my house we are four brothers and except one, we are quite athletes since children. My mother played tennis, but it is not that he has instilled it to us. Maybe it's because we were born with that ability to play sports and we like it. When I was little, what wanted to be older? A. I have always wanted to study law since I was a child, but I liked the company. I feel lawyer, but I am passionate about the world of business. I think he is not at odds, it is true that there are few lawyers in these positions, but the few that are very brilliant. I can tell you from [Pablo] Island to [María Dolores] Dancausa, they are all lawyers. Q. What attracts you from the company? A. The creative and strategy part, the commercial part, the marketing part, operations … see how we can do to sell more, analyze what the consumer likes. I am very empathic and succeed with something I am passionate. You get a product and succeed and people tell you: 'What a good product …' You like it. Less part of systems, computers, cybersecurity and all that I have to know, but it costs me more, in everything else I am passionate. Q. What memory does you keep with more love of your childhood? A. My father was an entrepreneur and had a family business and his hobby was to be in the field, have his little garden and it is an image that I have. And my mother was waiting for us when we arrived from school, I loved seeing her with our snack and the glass of milk. And rarely there was missing that appointment, but when it was missing, the day was black, cloudy. The day had another color if she was not there. And that's the two most endearing memories I have as a child. Q. Do you have pending to fulfill any dreams? A. Honestly, it sounds a little bad, but I think I have achieved my dreams. I have a wonderful family, that was one of my most important dreams. And then I am where I have always thought I wanted to be and doing what I like. You can't ask for more in life. I think I am from the lucky ones that I have achieved the dreams of my life. There are people who are very good and have not given the opportunity. They have given me the opportunity, I am grateful. I like the one I do and see that I have problems: the Covid, the War of Ukraine, the tariffs … that is, I have not stopped. It is also true that I always try to surround myself from the best team and that also helps me a lot. Q. Is it a demanding boss? R. I am a very demanding person, with myself and with others. But it is also true that we are a team. There is no distance, I think that people who work with me work at ease because I participate in the projects. I also like to get the best out of people and for that we must give important challenges. Sometimes, people from my team tell me: 'But I'm not prepared.' How are you not prepared? I see you there. And in the end he does and is delighted. They have done it with me and I am not the same of three years ago. So, as I know what my team is capable, I usually push the best of each one. And with my children I am the same. Q. What things take you out of what? A. It takes my treason and conspiracy out of what. I am very transparent and sincere, I do not get along. Q. But is there a lot of that in your circle? A. I do not say it only in the business issue, which can be, I say it in general in life. Or take advantage of the elderly, the weak. I don't support those things, I can't with them. Q. What things make you smile? A. Seeing a child smile and laugh out loud, I love that. Anything takes a smile. I am easy. Q. Does everything that is happening in the world be a little scared? A. I have some respect for what is happening. Above all, because Europe has to espabilar. And not only at the arms level. Q. And in your personal life, what things are afraid of? A. Health is what scares me. Q. Do you recommend a restaurant? A. Well look, I like one that is very simplistic, Inari. It is a Japanese food restaurant and I think it has the Nigiri and the Better Sushi. Or any of Dani García I also like it. Q. What is the best advice you have given? R. On a professional level, and it also serves for staff, is to take care of the mind, mental health. Q. Do you apply it? R. I try, I try to meditate every morning. Mental health also has a lot to do with sport, because it helps you and some types of readings too. Trying to disconnect on weekends helps you a lot. That is, I do certain things that I know favor me. If I do not disconnect, it is true that the following week I start badly. And there is no better thing to disconnect with family and friends. Q. What plans? R. Single. That friends come home to eat. We make a barbecue or a rice or whatever. Or go hiking, walk to the field, for example. Or any trip with my children flips me. It is very easy to content me. With being with my friends and my family I am happy. I am very normal.