The woman that turned ideas into empires

Ana Maria Llopis has shown that passion and ambition can be the key to achieving your dreams. Born in Carúpano, Venezuela, in 1950 to a Spanish family, Ana María grew up with international roots but a distinctly Spanish identity. Her background provided her with the drive and perspective she needed to leave a lasting impression in the business world.

Ana María’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. She graduated with a degree from the University of Maryland in Physics and Math, then earned a Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in Materials Science. She excelled in fields that were dominated by males, earning a summa comme laude.  This was a sign that her brilliance and determination would define the rest of her career.

In the U.S. she began her professional career, but it was in Spain she really made her name. She took on senior roles in Procter & Gamble, Banesto, and Schweppes, sharpening her expertise in management, innovation, and strategy. She then made a move that forever changed her life: she founded OpenbankThe first online bank in Spain. At a time when digital banking was still uncharted territory, Ana María dared to take the leap, and it paid off. Openbank changed the way Spanish managed their money, and cemented Ana Maria’s reputation as an innovative leader.

In 2008, she launched a new product that was never going to stop being innovative. Ideas4all InnovationPlatform designed to harness collective creativity and intelligence within organizations. By encouraging people to work together and find solutions, she has created an environment in which bold ideas flourish, reflecting her values. Beyond her entrepreneurial ventures, Ana María has shattered glass ceilings in corporate leadership. She became the chairwoman for DIA SupermarketsShe is one of only a few women who have led a company on the IBEX 35, Spain’s stock exchange. She has defended gender equality with passion and spoken openly about quotas. “I was chosen for a board in order to meet a quota and I can say that with pride.” I have proven my worth and that is the end of it. She is equally dedicated to helping others: We need to install ladders so that others can get to the places we have reached.

Her accolades, including the International Women’s Forum Award and the Leadership Woman Executive Award from FEDEPE, only highlight what so many already know: Ana María is not just a leader, but a mentor and a role model. Her story doesn’t only revolve around building companies, but also building pathways. For women dreaming of leading, creating, or innovating, Ana María Llopis is living proof that starting from scratch is no barrier to building an empire.