Diana Carol. Head of co-investments at BlackRock Capital Markets for Europe. Degree in Economics and Law from UPF.
How does London manage to attract and retain talent?
Despite Brexit, London remains a city that attracts talent among young Europeans with ambition and an interest in finance. The uncertainty linked to Brexit, inflation (the latest figures reach 8.7%, one of the highest in Europe) or a weakened pound do not seem to be sufficient reasons to make enemies with the British capital. In fact, the Global Talent Survey reveals that London continues to be the favorite city among Europeans to work (and has been doing so for the last 8 years).
I have lived in the land of 5 o’clock tea and scones for 10 years, and for 12 months I have also been a British citizen. And despite the chaos of the city or the lack of sun (clearly the most unpleasant part of this experience), I try to understand what is keeping me here. Surely it is the multitude of opportunities, the value of meritocracy and the ability to self-improvement (it is not always easy to navigate between the different personalities in the financial sector) make it a unique hub for professional growth. In a certain way, London can be understood as the “new American dream”.
How could the London experience be transferred to Barcelona?
It is essential to eliminate uncertainties and offer certainties. And bet on being ‘business friendly’ to recover talent
Barcelona is synonymous with culture, gastronomic offer, cosmopolitan atmosphere and with geographical characteristics that make it unique. However, it has not been able to develop a vision of the future, especially in the financial sector. When banks moved to the European continent as a result of Brexit, Barcelona did not know how to take advantage of the first mover advantage and design a roadmap to become a first-class European financial capital and the cake ended up being divided between Paris, Milan and Madrid. I don’t know if there will be another opportunity, but next time it will be essential to step on the accelerator and anticipate to develop the right incentives to ensure that talent returns or even does not escape. Barcelona has excellent universities and business schools, but it has not yet defined its horizon for the future. Nor has the march of companies and banks helped after the 2017 crisis. For all this, clear leadership from its politicians and civil society and a long-term view are essential. Short-termism can serve to win elections, but never to transform a country. It is essential to eliminate uncertainties and offer certainties. And bet on being business friendly to recover talent.
