Anna Navarro Schlegel’s career speaks for itself as to what it means to be a trendsetter in the global multinational, digital and technology landscape. Anna has worked in some of the world’s most influential companies, namely Cisco Systems, VMware, NetApp, Xerox, VeriSign, and Procore Technologies, and continues to invest and develop technologies where her leadership role in the orchestration of the global strategy of these organizations speaks volumes. She has also been honored as the “Most Innovative Woman Leader in Technology and Global Strategy” by CToday Awards. She just spent over three years at Procore Technologies as their Global Vice President, guiding teams around the world to deliver seamless local experiences in the construction sector. Here is a recap of our interview with her.

Driving Global Strategies at Procore Technologies

Today, as the High-Tech Executive and MP at the Parliament of Catalunya, Anna’s approach has always been rooted in a deep understanding of the nuances required to implement a global strategy effectively that helps millions of people. “I always start with a team first mentality, and then a relentless customer centric approach,” she shares. “Who are we helping and why” “What do our customers really need?” This stands true for any team, be it at an NGO, An enterprise or a political group. This is about people working with people and wanting the best to win. How that happens is the secret sauce you prepare over decades.

For example, success for Anna translates to wanting companies like NetApp or Procore to be discovered as locally as possible, and to clearly understand that people in each market have different cultural and compliance needs. That requires careful orchestration between teams, that is why she spends so much time on a people first mentality, her team’s development, her team´s clarity, her team´s training and innovation. They need to have clear line of sight into budget planning, roadmaps, and local realities to win. With highly regulated industries such as construction differing regional safety, governmental and quality standards it is crucial that her team is the best to manage such level of complexity. You have to hire the best, and choosing this team, taking care of them, giving them clarity and the role they deserve is of much importance to Anna, she talks about her teams as a sports team playing at the highest levels. That is why they win, consistently.  

Passion for Global Innovation and Ethical Leadership 

Anna’s passion for global innovation is driven by her commitment to real-world needs, sustainability, and ethical leadership. She explains, “Each foundation, NGO, Forum, Study or company I’ve worked for has had a massive global reach. And to meet real-world needs in more than 190 countries, you have to be very intentional and surgical in how process, products, methods, solutions and technologies are introduced, making sure customers, constituents or members feel that they were meant for them, and that is very complex geopolitically and logistically, but it is doable if you have a motivated highly prepared team. She also talks constantly about sustainability, she says that the big companies are highly concerned about their environmental impact, especially while transitioning to cloud-based infrastructure. Ethical leadership to Anna begins with how we treat our colleagues, hurry up to train AI, and respect local nuances around language and processes.

Recent Awards and Career Change

Anna has been recognized via different countries, organizations and collectives over the years, which speaks volumes of her impact: From enterprise, to technology to language, to sports, to representing her own native Catalunya abroad. For this, she sits in numerous boards and is requested to speak across numerous topics. You can see her work at www.trulyglobalbusiness.com  We are thrilled to be awarding Anna with our award this year!  

In April 2024, Anna received the XXXV award from the Institute of Exterior Projection of the Catalan Culture for spreading Catalan culture throughout the world. Just a month later, she took one of the biggest career shifts by joining Catalan politics as part of Junts per Catalunya, where she was elected as a member of the Catalan Parliament. Anna continues to be a board member and co-founder of Universalization.ai, the bridge between technology and governance.

For Anna, being called the “Most Innovative Woman Leader in Technology and Global Strategy” holds a lot of meaning, yet she never shows a haughty attitude and considers it her task to inspire others. She puts it in words: “If I did it, so can other females,” indicating that she wants to shatter that glass ceiling for women leaders. As co-founder and president of Women in Localization, Anna has dedicated herself to innovation and inclusion within the localization industry.

Through her organization, she’s helped create female leaders in global industries, enabling them to mentor young women, teach new technologies, and promote diversity.

Advice for Aspiring Leaders 

Her advice to aspiring leaders is simple yet profound: “Join a movement, study areas where you’re not strong, get feedback consistently, and never stop learning. The way ‘how’ you lead is as important as what you lead.” Anna Navarro Schlegel’s journey is an example of lifelong commitment to driving global innovation, sustainability, ethical leadership, and inclusivity. She continues to pave the way for others, leaving a lasting impact on the global stage.

Pic Credit: Núria Càmera