The financial services industry is rapidly changing with upcoming new technologies that allow effective management of economic processes and their dynamics. Due to this, it has become more crucial than ever to incorporate digital advancement and up-to-the-minute tools into any business’s financial transaction as it directly influences the overall economic turnover of the enterprise. Sharing the same sentiment, a pioneer in the transformation of the Financial and Corporate Finance industry, Ángela Álvarez founded her own venture called ‘Aglaia Capital’ in 2019 that is growing as a singular new generation of corporate finance business combining the knowledge, the traditional discipline of an investment banking business, and the strengths of a technology-oriented business. Her mission is to mix the traditional corporate finance business with the new digital world. To learn more about how Ángela discovered her calling after spending more than 25 years in this field serving various global organizations, financial institutions, and banks as an expert in Corporate finance, M&A, Investment banking, and Financial Services, we sat down with her, and here’s what she says.
“ Her mission is to mix the traditional corporate finance business with the new digital world.”
Aspioneer (A): How did your formative years prepare you for the position you are at today? Were you inspired by a certain mentor or is it something that you discovered over the years following your passion and values as a professional?
Ángela Álvarez (Á Á): “There are some traits that are shown since childhood but that stay latent until something triggers them, and they appear again stronger enriched by all the discoveries learned along the path. I have developed my professional career in several big global organizations, and banks, among others, chairing international executive positions and Boards, mainly in M&A, and Investment Banking, with an international background mainly in the Financial, Real Estate and Hotel sectors, Restructuring, and Alternative Financing, Fintech, Blockchain, and digital assets. I have been raised in a family where universal values have a strong foundation, in an atmosphere that motivated me to express my own personality, and also to understand others’ needs.”
(A): It is indeed remarkable to see the skillset you have built in your highly successful career as a professional in this industry. However, it takes a certain amount of courage to take a leap of faith, leave all that, and put your mind into something new that may or may not come to fruition. How long do you think it will take Aglaia Capital to reach the mark that you have set for it?
(Á Á): “Aglaia Capital has come up and developed naturally, surging as an expression of my vision on the industry where I have been developing my professional career, adapted to sectors and geographies according to the current trends and demands, and including a technology offering anticipating the needs of the clients, and of the industry itself. We are based in Madrid, Spain, with an affiliated company in London, UK. We are assisting our clients on an international basis, through our network of clients, investors as well as affiliates and allies, focused mainly in Europe, and selectively in other geographies. Former and new clients are mixed in Aglaia Capital, and are continuing being nourished as well as the deal flow. Regarding our own digital internal developments, I expect to have it ready soon, and the development will depend on the level of adoption of the market. My ultimate goal is to imprint my vision on this industry and make a positive impact. For that, diversity and sustainability are also at the ethos of Aglaia Capital since inception.”
“I think that a good dose of authenticity, passion, honesty, as well as vision, determination, resilience, and creativity, has helped me in my vital growth. To sum up, following my instincts, flexibility, vision, and purpose have been my main tools to overcome any challenges faced on the way.”
(A): How do you make sure your services align with the latest industry trends? What is the biggest problem you want to help solve through your products and services?
(Á Á): “I usually tend to focus more on the present and the future than to look back. Similarly, Aglaia Capital’s focus lies in two main areas. First, on the advisory Corporate Finance, M&A and Private Equity, converging selected niche funds and investors, off-market deals, mainly in Europe, selectively in other geographies, specialized in Financing structures, Hotels, Real Estate, and Fintech, Blockchain, and Digital Assets. Overall, financing structures for Real Estate and Corporates, as well as off-market deals on Hotels, or Real Estate and Distressed Assets have been our core activity, which we are continually adapting according to the situations, and demands of the investors and sponsors. New technologies and digitalization are shaping the evolution of the financial sector, transforming also our industry, and I have incorporated digital assets in our offering. Second, we are focused on a Venture Capital business for early-stage Fintech Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT) projects, empowering the foundations of a new financial infrastructure that we consider being the engine for the natural evolvement of the Financial Industry and Capital Markets. Besides, we offer Aglaia Capital Club, an Investment Club with services for Investors.”
(A): As a female leader in an industry dominated by male professionals, what were the most defining moments in your journey? Is there any specific advice or ‘success secrets’ you would like to share with the aspiring women behind you striving to reach their goals?
(Á Á): “I have had many defining moments in my professional career, that brought me discoveries, and, at the same time, led me closer to my essence. All of them, and some wonderful people with who I shared that journey form pieces of my growing process, and of what I am now. The main challenge and advice for a generation of women behind mine maybe just “be”, without looking back to past stereotypes. As for the success secrets that I have acquired, I think that a good dose of authenticity, passion, honesty, as well as vision, determination, resilience, and creativity, has helped me in my vital growth. To sum up, following my instincts, flexibility, vision, and purpose have been my main tools to overcome any challenges faced on the way.”
“When it comes to leadership, the fact of creation, imprinting my vision, and making a positive impact is a powerful motivation itself besides an inner impulse acting as an engine for continuing growth. I believe that sustainability and diversity, driven by organizations and consumers, will be a way for differentiation, and the selective competitive evolution of the current corporate world.”
(A): In comparison to other figureheads in the fields how does your leadership style stand out when it comes to inspiring others and contributing to your success? Do you do any pro bono work or are there any causes you support?
(Á Á): “When it comes to leadership, the fact of creation, imprinting my vision, and making a positive impact is a powerful motivation itself besides an inner impulse acting as an engine for continuing growth. I believe that sustainability and diversity, driven by organizations and consumers, will be a way for differentiation, and the selective competitive evolution of the current corporate world. I am usually involved with causes that are related to universal values, diversity, sustainability, aiming to make an impact and a better world. I am involved in an association promoting among the Youth a code of universal values, others promoting the cultural and commercial exchange of the Spanish and British community, and another promoting the preservation of olive trees in Spain, to support the less populated areas.”
(A): What is your final vision when it comes to Aglaia Capitals? Is there a specific goal you would like to reach in the next five years?
(Á Á): “I see myself in the future continuing contributing to transforming the financial industry. Current goals are the consolidation of Aglaia Capital, continuing growing our core Corporate Finance business, aiming to be a reference for off-market deals, and making new technological developments for digital assets, which are our core. We are also in a process of fundraising for our Fintech Blockchain Venture Capital fund. We will aim to develop also a Private Equity Strategy to make easier making investments, leveraging our knowledge of the markets, our deal flow, to digitalize those vehicles to make them more efficient, profitable, liquid, and transparent for our investors.”
