1. What led you to dedicate your professional career to helping businesses grow?
I have always had a drive to improve, a belief that you can always go further and grow in what you do. When I decided to focus on economics and business, I knew that my goal was to help business ventures grow and achieve a greater impact year after year.
For a time, I did this as a consultant in the private sector. The opportunity to do it within public administration, implementing strategies and initiatives that would benefit not just one company but could be scaled up to have a wider impact, was one I could not pass up.
2. In your work supporting businesses at ACCIÓ, which case or experience has left a particular mark on you? What did you learn from it?
After 30 years with the organisation, I could talk about major investments we have helped secure, which make us proud because of the jobs they have created. But I could also talk about that small business facing difficulties that we advised one day and have supported through different stages of its life, as it adapted to new challenges and began to innovate and export. That business, now no longer small, still calls us whenever it takes on a new project to talk it through. Seeing these companies evolve and grow, and knowing that they continue to place their trust in ACCIÓ, gives us great satisfaction.
Fortunately, there is always something to learn from every project we work on, both those that go well and those that, unfortunately, do not. Every company comes to us saying that its case is unique or that its sector has characteristics that set it apart. And that is indeed true: every project is different. Nevertheless, there are common factors behind success and failure. These are the elements we try to address: from those rooted in company culture, leadership, business models and strategy to those linked to specific international expansion or innovation projects.
3. What are the main barriers to growth for SMEs and startups, and what helps them overcome these obstacles?
The main challenge for many SMEs and startups is to increase their size. Catalonia has a very dynamic and entrepreneurial business community, but it consists primarily of small and medium-sized enterprises. Their smaller size can make it harder to access funding, invest in innovation or expand internationally. As a company grows, its productivity increases, as does its ability to attract and retain talent. That is why business growth is not just a challenge for individual companies, but also for the country as a whole.
There are often other factors that limit this growth, such as an overly cautious business culture or a business model that is not sufficiently scalable. To overcome these obstacles, companies need to take a strategic approach to growth.
At ACCIÓ, we support businesses through the Business Growth Programme, which provides tools, expert advice and support to define and implement their business plans. The aim is to help them grow in size, become more competitive and develop the capacity to undertake more ambitious innovation and internationalisation projects. Growth is not just about volume; it is also about resilience, productivity and creating long-term value.
4. Where can a small business that wants to innovate begin?
The first step towards innovation is having the desire to improve and avoid stagnation. A company that does not innovate stands still. The companies that innovate most successfully are those that ask themselves what they can improve: increasing productivity, reducing costs, developing a new product, entering new markets or offering customers a better experience. That is why it is important to carry out an initial assessment to prioritise needs and define a realistic roadmap.
Once the challenge has been identified, the next step is to start with specific, manageable projects. For example, testing new solutions in a particular area, measuring the results and learning from the process. This approach helps reduce risks, better understand the impact of innovation and make more informed decisions. At ACCIÓ, we provide specialist, tailored advice to companies seeking to tackle new technological and innovation challenges, helping them access funding or test different technologies before investing.
Finally, innovation depends not only on technology or investment, but also on people. It is essential to involve the team, draw on internal knowledge and be open to working with other members of the ecosystem, such as technology centres, universities or business support programmes.
5. How can a company know whether it is ready to enter international markets? What should it consider before taking that step?
A company is ready to expand internationally when it is clear about what it can offer the market, what resources it can commit and what objectives it wants to achieve. Before looking abroad, it is important to carry out an internal analysis to assess factors such as production capacity, financial strength and how well prepared its teams are. Internationalisation is an opportunity for growth, but it also requires time, resources and commitment from the company.
Another key factor is having a clear strategy. Exporting is not about trying your luck in a foreign market. As with innovation, companies need to define a roadmap with specific objectives. They also need to allocate dedicated resources and carefully select their priority markets. Choosing the right destination country and understanding its regulations, competition and cultural characteristics is just as important as having a good product or service.
That is why ACCIÓ supports companies in the early stages of this process through the Catalunya Exporta programme and our internationalisation advisory services. The aim is to help them carry out a thorough assessment, define a robust export strategy and reduce the risks associated with entering new markets. A planned and sustained approach to internationalisation tends to deliver much stronger and more lasting results.
6. What advice would you give an SME or startup that wants to grow, innovate or enter new markets?
I would say that you need to think big but start with manageable steps. Whether they are looking to grow, innovate or enter new markets, the companies that succeed are those that combine ambition with the ability to execute, have a clear sense of direction and remain committed to their goal.
It is also important to understand that both innovation and internationalisation are medium- to long-term processes. They require persistence, adaptability and a willingness to learn along the way. Finally, I would tell them not to try to do it alone. Catalonia has a very strong business support ecosystem, with technology centres, universities, financial institutions and organisations such as ACCIÓ that can support companies at every stage of their development. Knowing when to ask for support, drawing on available knowledge and sharing risks is often the best way to accelerate growth and turn challenges into opportunities.
7. Autoocupació’s motto is “I am who I want to be”. What about you? Are you?
The truth is, yes. I consider myself fortunate in many ways. I do a job I enjoy and would not change; I am lucky enough to help make the country’s businesses more competitive, with the pride and honour of doing so as part of an outstanding organisation that makes an impact. And I do so in a changing environment that creates new challenges and opportunities for businesses, from a vantage point that allows me to learn and gain insights into many success stories, whether they involve business models across different sectors, the implementation of emerging technologies or entry into new markets.
