Behind every thriving market at FREENOW, there’s a leader who drives growth and inspires teams. Meet Isabel García Frontera, General Manager for Spain. We spoke with Isabel to uncover some fun facts, explore her career path, and hear what it takes to lead in such a dynamic and fast-moving environment!
Hi Isabel, thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us! To kick things off, what’s a unique or surprising fact about you that most people might not know?
I absolutely love making soap! It all began when a friend taught me how to make natural soaps using oils, fats, and lye. She suggested they'd be great for my baby's skin issues, and she was right! What started out of a specific need then became a hobby that I still really enjoy today. Especially those afternoons making soap with friends, always full of fun, great chats and good drinks!
Shifting to your professional journey, could you tell us about your background, when you joined FREENOW, and what your role involves?
My journey began at Accenture, followed by a substantial career in both technological and strategic business consulting.
I then jumped into the tech startup world in 2013, which I loved, and where I led and built the Operations department (service/project delivery & support), scaling it to an international level.
I joined FREENOW in 2018 (at that time, still mytaxi!), right at the start of the year, on January 1st, as Head of Ops for Spain, with the mission to evolve from a startup to a scale-up set for success.
Three years later, I became General Manager for Spain, accountable for making sure we deliver excellent business results through an outstanding product and service for all our users (taxi drivers and passengers), pivoting on an engaged and diverse team.
What makes your role exciting or uniquely challenging?
I absolutely love the wide scope of the role: coordinating and supporting many different departments that operate within the Spanish market — ops, marketing, PA, PR, legal, B2B, people... They are all experts in their own functions, and I learn something new from each of them every day. I just need to make sure everything runs smoothly and stays coordinated in the same direction, with the same focus, goals, and mission.
I also love (though to be honest, it can sometimes be a challenge or a struggle) that no two days are alike. On top of the business-as-usual, there's always something new coming up, so there's definitely no chance of being bored!
What’s something you really love about being part of the FREENOW team?
It's a multinational company where you constantly work with people in other markets. It is very diverse, with many different nationalities, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, which is very enriching. We learn from and respect each other. The culture is very collaborative.
I also love the tangible impact of our day-to-day work on people's lives, in how they move in the city, how our app makes their lives easier when they need a ride, and how we contribute to shaping mobility in our cities.
What advice would you give to someone considering joining FREENOW?
If you love challenges and working in fast-paced environments where you can grow and go beyond your role, if you are a team player who thrives in multinational and multicultural settings, and if you love tech and want to have a say in mobility, join us and enjoy every minute of this rollercoaster ride!