The Spotlight is On: Paula Gil Navarro

At Cien, we’re lucky to have a diverse, talented and passionate team! In this series, we meet a Cien team member to ask them what it’s like to work at an AI-first start up.

This week we meet Human Resources Manager Paula Gil Navarro.

Where are you from? What brought you to Barcelona?

I am originally from the north of Argentina, proud mate drinker and empanada lover. I’m passionate about people development and I am an IR and HR professional, schooled at Google. I’m obsessed with cats, a field hockey player and an amateur baker.

I fell in love with Barcelona since the first time I visited. It has a magic vibe that only a city surrounded by beaches and mountains can provide. I love the international culture that exists but also the feeling of being home that this city provides. The decision to move here came from the urge of moving away from my comfort zone, trying something new and meeting new people. I have been living here for a little over a year and I am enjoying every minute of it.

Why did you join Cien?

From the first interview with our CEO, Rob, it was clear that the company had the same values I was looking for. The job offering was really challenging, with a lot of things to get done and a lot more to learn. Also, the fact that Cien decided to hire an HR Manager from the get-go to build a team and a culture from the ground up, shows how the company values its employees. There was no doubt I had to be part of this ride.

Describe your role in three words.

Maximize people’s talents.

What’s the best thing about your job?

I have the chance to help people do their best at work. From hiring the right people into the right roles, making sure all the basics are in place (payroll, assets, etc) to providing them with training and development, all that wide range of activities come down to one thing: help employees feel happy when they come to work. And that is really rewarding.

What have you learned since you’ve joined Cien?

I’ve learned how to build an HR department from the ground up and much more.

In your opinion, are the developments in AI going to take our jobs?

I don’t think so, but it is definitely going to help us do our jobs better. It will save us time to do the more interesting activities.

How do you apply the Cien core values in your day to day work?

I try to think about the values in every new project I implement. I want to implement HR processes that help us have a great team, that can get things done but also do it in an ethical way. All while having fun at it 🙂

What is the best advice you have ever received?

Energy is limited. Don’t waste it on things that won’t matter in the near future. Be emotionally intelligent.

You’re welcome to get in touch with Paula or connect on LinkedIn.