A great company pays great attention to its people. This is something Lola Ojanguren understands very well. As the company’s HR & Office manager, she has been with Cefetra Ibérica from the beginning. She discusses the importance of listening. ‘At every age, we want you to be able to grow.’
Second home
‘Cefetra Ibérica was up and running in January 2015,’ Lola says. ‘I have been here since the beginning. We started with nine colleagues and now there are thirty-two of us. I have seen everything grow. It feels like a second home, a place with lots of great memories. We are now preparing for our company’s tenth anniversary. It is quite a milestone, so it’s worth celebrating.’
‘From the start, I have overseen everything around the office – making sure everything works properly and everyone has what they need. When we first set up HR, I also took that on me. Making plans with colleagues, enabling them to develop themselves. I enjoy staying in touch with everyone. I want to know how they are doing, how they are feeling.’
“Understanding and supporting our colleagues is essential to us”
Lola Ojanguren – HR & Office Manager
Different wishes
‘We have colleagues in their early twenties and colleagues in their sixties. A great mix of experience and points of view. If you use that well, it enriches our team. It is important for me to listen to them, because when you are 25, you have different wishes than when you are 62. And we want everyone in our team to be able to grow.’
Lola is always learning new things as well. ‘I am currently following a course on strategic HR management. I also have two hours of English lessons every week. I believe it’s important to keep expanding your knowledge and skills. I couldn’t stand still.’
Enjoying a new challenge
‘Cefetra is an international environment, very different from my previous employers. I worked on production in a theater, a cinema, in a winery. And I started my career as a receptionist. I have always worked on my development and Cefetra gives me the opportunity to keep doing that.’
‘In our office, each week can be different than the previous one,’ Lola emphasizes. ‘It’s important to enjoy having a new challenge come your way regularly.’
Understanding and support
‘A recent highlight is something our Young Talents told us. We organized a roundtable to hear about their perspectives. What do they appreciate about the way we work? What would they like us to improve? They said there was nothing they wanted to change anymore. There had been some things before, but those were dealt with during their time here. It was wonderful to hear that. It confirms that we have listened to them.’
‘Communication is fundamental. Understanding and supporting our colleagues is essential to us. We will always see what we can do to help you enjoy your job more and perform better.’
