It took a 12-year journey of hard work for Gabriela Olaizola to rise to the position of General Manager in our country at one of the most prominent multinational companies: Bimbo.
From Head of Operations to Head of Logistics, and from there, to Manager of both areas. For this MBA graduate from Universidad ORT Uruguay, the key to her professional career has been striking the right balance between attitude and aptitude. She shares this insight in the following interview.
How did you come to be appointed general manager at Bimbo?
I joined Bimbo in 2008 and started in the Manufacturing division, thanks to my previous experience in the industrial sector at other companies. This allowed me to work at the plants of the group’s three businesses in Uruguay. My position at the time was Head of Operations, a role I held for six years.
Toward the end of 2014, I was offered the opportunity to move to Logistics. This change presented a major challenge. The basis for the offer was not my expertise in the field, but rather my management and leadership skills. My somewhat restless nature prompted me to accept the offer and take on the role of Head of Logistics.
After a year of intense work, I was promoted to Logistics Manager. At that time (in 2017), I focused on an overhaul process that yielded excellent results for the organization. I remember being at a training session in Mexico when I received a call from Uruguay informing me that, upon my return, I would be appointed Head of Operations and Logistics. From that moment on, I never stopped dreaming of the possibility of managing what had become an end-to-end supply chain.
Everything continued on its course until the then-CEO began to encourage my training in the commercial area to complement my background. And so, on March 1, 2020, I became the CEO of Bimbo in Uruguay.
Looking back, I feel that over the course of twelve years I traveled a path full of challenges and rewards, which drove me to go further. Honestly, when I first walked through the doors of Bimbo Uruguay, it never crossed my mind that this could actually happen.
Beyond everything I have contributed professionally, I want to acknowledge the generosity of the great leaders I have encountered, who understood that developing talent is what shapes a company’s DNA.
What are the main challenges you’ll face in this new role, and what kind of impact would you like to make through your work?
My main challenge is to ensure that Bimbo Uruguay remains sustainable over the long term, in a context where we must stay competitive without compromising the standards that define us. Consumers are becoming increasingly demanding, and we must meet their needs by offering products that satisfy their expectations and requirements.
Our goal is to be present in Uruguayan homes every day. We want to be in everyone’s hands, always be the go-to choice, and as we achieve this, we will distinguish ourselves as an employer brand that creates jobs.
Achieving these goals is tied to the legacy I want to leave behind and what I define as my personal brand. I want to be remembered as an inspiring leader who helped transform the business through strategic innovation and our people—who, ultimately, are and will always be the driving force.
What were the key factors that helped you advance in your professional career?
Throughout my professional career, the common thread has been complementing my skills with a strong sense of commitment and proactivity in tackling the challenges at hand. In short, making things happen.
If I had to sum it up, I’d say I managed to strike the right balance between attitude and aptitude.
"Talent development is what shapes a company's DNA"
What were the key lessons you learned through the ORT MBA program, and how did they impact your professional career?
I can say without a doubt that my perspective changed completely after my time at ORT.
I developed the ability to understand a business by considering all its perspectives and to make decisions by weighing them in a way that maximizes the business’s bottom line.
I learned to put myself in others’ shoes and to understand problems by viewing them from their perspective. Without a doubt, all of this contributed greatly to my ability to secure the position I hold today.
All the experience I gained from doing the MBA enriched me by helping me present myself as a well-rounded professional and contributed to my being seen as having the potential to manage operations at a multinational like Bimbo.
I have very fond memories of my time at ORT; I even had the good fortune to make friends there—the kind you keep for a lifetime.
"I want to be remembered as an inspiring leader"