We interviewed Paloma Velo, our director of the image department in Madrid, a woman who step by step and with a lot of determination has forged her way in the events sector.
Paloma Velo is the longest-serving director, to be precise, her career with the company started at the very beginning of WORKOUT.
Her first job at WORKOUT was as an event hostess, later and once she gained the trust of her superiors she started working in the office as a receptionist, until finally, after 4 years she got her second promotion and became coordinator of the image department.
Since this promotion, her achievements have continued, as after some time as coordinator she became responsible and finally director of the image department in Madrid and Barcelona.
How did our image department manager in Madrid discover her passion?
Paloma tells us that since she was a child she loved to participate in events and was passionate about the magic of television.
Driven by her parents, who knew her passion and the same ones who have always supported her, at the age of 15 she started studying at the school of Rocío Martín (former Miss Spain), where she learned about protocol, hairdressing, makeup, etc.
Once she finished her studies and even though she was a minor, her passion for events led her to participate as an unpaid hostess in associations and as a model in fashion design students’ catwalks.
“It was very funny, because I was blonde and because of my tender face, I was always chosen to parade in wedding dresses.”
Soon after, as an adult, Paloma continued to work as a model on catwalks and as a hostess on television programs (this time on a paid basis).
“I love the stress of live programs and events. When you are behind the scenes and belong to the organizational staff, you have to be very responsive.”
Simultaneously, while participating in events, she studied to become a teacher, as her family supported her on the condition that she would not stop studying and that she would have a plan B.
At the end of his three-year teaching career, he traveled from Seville to Madrid with two purposes, on the one hand, to study acting and on the other, to make his way in the best events in Spain.
Finally, once settled in Madrid, Paloma decided to follow her passion and here she began her journey in Workout.
Let’s get to know this inspiring woman better!
Hostess, coordinator, manager and director of the image department in Madrid have been the positions in which you have developed in these 15 years within the company. WORKOUT EVENTS… What do you consider to have been the strengths that have led you to achieve these promotions?
R: There are many factors for moving up in a company, but the most important in my view are:
- Work a lot, a lot, a lot, too much!
- I always give more of myself, and when I feel I can’t give any more, I still give a little more.
- Passion! It is essential that you like what you do, almost to the point of not feeling it is a job.
- Be authentic and transparent with both bosses and subordinates.
- Constancy and determination.
- Support the people next to you.
Now that you are Director of the Madrid Image Department, what is your next goal and how do you plan to achieve it?
R: I would like to be able to transfer to my entire team the passion with which I have lived these 27 years in the events industry.
I want the people around me to feel what I feel.
I am very excited to be able to pass on my knowledge, values and experience to you.
My goal is to make the image department of image department in Barcelona evolve and form a strong team, like the one I now lead in Madrid.
On the other hand and no less important, I would like to grow the image department in Madrid, have more staff and have a multidisciplinary team.
One project I have in mind is to promote training, I would like it to be more continuous and more complete, both for the street staff and for the office team.
My goal is that my team can do different things, that they know everything and that they have enough tools to solve any problem that comes up.
On a professional level, What characteristics do you value most in the people around you?
R: The most important thing is that people are good people, but focusing more on the team level, it seems to me that it is important to have different personalities and profiles, because one is enriched by the other.
I believe that each person has something valuable and something to contribute, my team is a team because it is complementary, there is someone who has a lot of character, someone who is very orderly, someone else who is extremely meticulous, someone else who is very humble and understanding and someone else who has an extensive background and who is pure freshness.
The important thing is that we all keep in mind that we are a team and that with the accumulated knowledge we can achieve great goals.
Doing something you love once a day gives you the energy you need to do the things you don’t like so much. What gives you that energy in your life?
R: Goingto previews and being able to keep working!!!, I love being able to be functional in what I love the most.
It’s awesome, but it still motivates me to go to events like when I was 15 years old!
I love being part of a team that achieves great staging, organizing the department, planning before, during and after and making both supplier and client work in synergy so that everything goes perfectly.
We want to know more about Paloma Velo. In a word How would you define your past, present and future?
- Past – Pff… Seville
- Present – Madrid
- Future – I don’t know
I say What does …mean to you? and you answer me with the first sentence that comes to your mind.
- Commitment: ehhhh…WORKOUT
- Teamwork: Image Department
- Living: Up to date!
- Partnership: My team
- Success: What we are achieving
- Punctuality: Necessary, VERY necessary.
Which would you say is your … favorite?
- Film: The apple of my eye
- Book: I don’t read much, I like watching TV more.
- Word: Humility
- Hobbies: watching TV and going to the movies
- Music: Copla, Flamenco and Pop
- Artist or group: kylie minogue
- Food: Pasta and hamburgers, hahaha.
And to close with a flourish, what would be the slogan or phrase that most identifies you? And why?
R: “Being simple is what makes you greater.”
I consider that this sentence, in spite of being very short, has a great content.
One has to be as one is and not pretend things that are not.
In my daily life I try to instill humility, as I feel it is a fundamental value that helps you grow and even makes you smarter.
Paloma, thank you very much for letting us know more about you!
