M. Alejandra López-Yglesias

In 1995, Alejandra started as a young receptionist at Laboratorios Zepol. Almost 20 years later she became the company's CEO. What happened in between? Well, a lot of studying and a lot of learning, which she now realizes are definitely not the same.

She worked in several different positions within Zepol, as well as in other companies, other industries, and other countries. She has played many different roles during her professional life. From a room service attendant to a successful hotel manager; from a marine biology student to leader of an important scientific investigation in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia; from saving sea turtles as part of a non-profit organization to manager in a luxurious rainforest hotel; from team member of an industrial production line to CEO of a third generation pharmaceutical company.

During all these years, Alejandra has travelled around the world seeking adventures; she backpacked through Europe and Asia, jumped off planes and swam with schools of sharks; has fallen in love and gotten her heart broken; she has experienced many moments of absolute happiness, as well as her fair share of extreme sadness and despair.

In 2007, she lost her 28-year-old brother in an accident; in 2010, her 11-year-old sister also passed away very suddenly. Alejandra also has a younger sister, which is now her colleague, friend, and confidant.

She became a mother in 2012, and her daughter is, without a hint of a doubt, her uttermost reflection of love. When she turned 2 months old, her then husband was diagnosed with cancer and started chemotherapy. "Those were a couple of very convoluted years, but we made it through even stronger, as individuals, as a family, and as successful professionals", says Alejandra, "and even though we are not married any longer, we still care deeply for each other and feel forever grateful for the years and experiences we went through as a couple".

More recently, she has become even more involved in her roles as CEO and mother, without ever neglecting herself as a woman. While talking to her you realize that reaching that perfect balance is possible. She often says between laughs: "I can do everything if I don't overdo anything". And she really has done it all.

From receptionist to CEO; from adventurous traveler to responsible professional, woman, daughter, sister, and mother... She finishes up by sharing her mantra with us: "be present, or your entire life happens in a blink!"

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