Elsa Arnáiz Chico

I was born in Burgos (a small town of the north of Spain) in 1997, where I lived all my childhood (except for one year when I decided to study in England). In 2015, after graduating with honours from the International Baccalaureate, I moved to Madrid to start my degree in Law and International Relations at IE University, where I was awarded numerous honours. During this period, I founded, together with other IE classmates, "RAIA Group," an organisation that provides a space for young people to reflect and learn about public affairs and foreign policy. In 2020, I undertook a double challenge: to promote and make "Talento para el Futuro" financially and professionally sustainable, while at the same time pursuing a master's degree in Big Data at IE Business School. Since then, Talento para el Futuro has become a recognised and reputable organisation in the intergenerational reconnection of young people with politics. Since 2021, I am part of the Advisory Board for the ECOEMBES Strategic Plan, and I collaborate with multiple news and media outlets. I was a finalist for this year's Princesa de Girona Awards in the Social Category. And most importantly, I'm a happy mom since last December.

How did IE help you get to where you are today?

IE has been the foundation of everything that I'm doing. At IE, I discovered my passion for politics, my drive to become a leader and most importantly, I got the interpersonal skills without which it would have been impossible to make it.

What is the best advice you can give to a young individual starting his/her professional career?

The best advice would be to relax and not take yourself so seriously. Of course, you should pursue your dreams and work hard, but nothing matters if you do not enjoy the ride. Success is not about the goal, but the journey, so make it a good one.

What does the future have in store for you?

Well, I hope it brings a lot of happiness. Since I've become a mother, I've realised that all those sappy, cheesy sayings are somehow true. Nothing will matter professionally if I'm not happy with myself at the end of the day. Having said that, I do hope that my professional future will lead me to a place where the voice of young people in Spain is well recognised in politics, and where we realise that in order to make good public policies, we need to take into account the vision of young people.