I am Victoria González Gutiérrez, Telecommunications Engineer and graduate of the Gandia Campus of the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV). Throughout my career I have applied the engineering base acquired at university in different sectors, combining entrepreneurship, technology and continuous training.
What do you remember about your time at the UPV Gandia Campus? What was the most rewarding part of your study years? And the most challenging?
I remember the Gandia Campus as a very special stage. When I decided to go there to study, people around me asked me if I was really going to study or if it would be a “vacation”, because of the image of a Mediterranean city associated with a holiday destination. Over time I understood that this change was a great personal and professional opportunity.
The most rewarding thing was the close environment and the hands-on learning, as well as the direct relationship with the faculty. The most challenging part was facing the demands of a technical career and learning to manage the effort and perseverance necessary to advance, something that I continue to apply today in my day-to-day professional life.
What motivated you to choose the Gandia Campus?
At that time, it offered a specialization in Sound and Image which, after analysing different options within engineering, I considered a differential value proposition for the labor market. In addition, I was particularly attracted by the possibility of having contact with the world of theater through acoustics, and with cinema and television through the production, treatment and transmission of image and sound, areas that had always aroused my interest.
What has entrepreneurship meant in your professional career?
Over time I understood that my first entrepreneurial project was myself. Entrepreneurship does not always mean creating a company from the first day, but daring to
making decisions, taking risks and getting out of the comfort zone. It has allowed me to move in very different sectors and to transfer my engineering training to real contexts. It has also taught me that a good idea or a good technology will not go far if they do not know how to communicate, if they do not understand the market or if they do not connect with people.
What skills are crucial in your day-to-day work?
Adaptability, communication and global vision. Engineering gives you a very solid technical base, but with experience you learn that knowing how to listen, work with diverse people and explain complex ideas in a simple way is just as important as technical knowledge.
What would you recommend to current students at the Gandia Campus?
Don’t be in a hurry to have everything clear. The career is only the starting point, not the final destination. Learning continues throughout one’s professional life and the paths are not always linear. Maintaining curiosity, a learning attitude and self-confidence is key to building a solid and satisfying career path.
Victoria González Gutiérrez is a Telecommunications Technical Engineer and graduated in Telecommunications Systems Engineering, Sound and Image from the Gandia Campus of the UPV; UPV Alumni and professional with more than 25 years of experience in sectors such as acoustics, acoustics and broadcastShe is also involved in R&D&I, medical devices and digital transformation. Co-founder of technological projects, she maintains close ties with the university and the profession, actively participating in the collegiate environment and in initiatives to disseminate and promote talent.