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Corporate to Couture - Part I

Writer's picture: Helene de TaeyeHelene de Taeye

fabiola, former tech titan, standing in front of a big bouquet of flowers

Tech Titan: Fabiola’s Corporate Leadership Journey

Fabiola’s career is a masterclass in navigating the complexities of the corporate world with grace, resilience, and an unwavering sense of self. For 28 years, she thrived in some of the world’s largest technology companies, carving out a space in a field dominated by men.


Starting Strong at Siemens: A Game of Problem and Solution

Fabiola’s corporate life began in 1997 at Siemens, where she quickly adapted to the company’s rigorous, solution-oriented culture. “Germans think in terms of problem and solution,” she says. “They don’t carry problems with them; they resolve them.” This mindset became a cornerstone of her approach to work.


As a young woman in a male-dominated space, she felt that she had to prove her worth. Rather than focusing on the differences between her and her male colleagues, she concentrated on her performance. “I never thought about what others might think because I am a woman,” she recalls. “I focused on my work, step by step, like it was a sport.” This competitive spirit helped her see challenges as opportunities, not obstacles.


Belief, Resilience, and Emotional Intelligence

Throughout her career, Fabiola has been a vocal advocate for self-belief—both in herself and in the women she has mentored along the way. “You have to believe in yourself. People can sense if you’re confident or scared, and it affects how they see you.” She carried this belief into leadership roles at HP and IBM, where she became known for her ability to inspire and empower.


october 2016 – In HP headquarters in Palo Alto – California. With the HP Americas board, I won a sales latam price.
Fabiola: October 2016 – At HP headquarters in Palo Alto – California. With the HP Americas board, I won a Sales LATAM prize.

Daniel Goleman’s work on emotional intelligence influenced her in a big way: Fabiola wrote her master’s thesis on building effective teams through emotional and social skills. This knowledge equipped her with the ability to read people and manage high-pressure situations with ease. 


“I learned how to read people, to understand what they’re really thinking beyond their words,” she explains. This skill became invaluable in tense moments, like the time she found herself in a heated negotiation between a client’s lawyer and her own. “My own lawyer was losing patience, and the room was getting tense. I stepped in, looked the client’s lawyer in the eye, and spoke calmly. The entire mood changed,” she recalls. For Fabiola, the key to maintaining control is staying rational—even when emotions run high. “It’s not about reacting with the same energy. Don’t fight fire with fire. It’s about being the calming force in the room.”


“It’s not easy”, she concedes,”you have to practice a lot. But in the end, if the other person loses control and walks away, you won’t be the one who looks bad.”


Embracing Femininity in a Male-Dominated Industry

Unlike many women who feel the need to adopt traditionally masculine behaviors in corporate settings, Fabiola always embraced her femininity as a strength. She found that her perspective could complement, rather than conflict with, the directness often seen in her male counterparts. “I’ve never lost my feminine side,” she says proudly. “I think like a man sometimes to understand their logic, but I don’t try to act like one. I stay true to who I am.”

December 2022 we celebrate 90 years of IBM's presence in Peru, The picture is in our offices in Lima.
Fabiola: December 2022 - We celebrate 90 years of IBM's presence in Peru.

Her approach to leadership is not about blending in but about adding a new voice to the conversation. She emphasizes the importance of understanding how men think and communicate—direct, solution-oriented, concise—while bringing her own strengths to the table. This balance allowed her to navigate complex corporate dynamics without losing her identity. “It’s not about feminism or machismo,” she says. “It’s about being who you are and knowing you have the same capabilities as anyone else. You have to start by believing it.”


Building Strong Teams

Fabiola’s success as a leader is built on her ability to create environments where her teams can thrive. She cultivated a culture of open communication and mutual respect. “I always told my teams that it’s like the Knights of the Round Table—no one is above or below anyone else. Everyone’s voice matters.” She encouraged her team members to speak freely, knowing that even the most unconventional ideas could spark innovative solutions. “Never dismiss a suggestion outright. You never know when a crazy idea might become something brilliant.”


Leading by Example

Fabiola is known for leading by example—a trait that has earned her the respect and loyalty of her colleagues. One particular story stands out: during a high-stakes client meeting, she tasked her team with delivering concise 15-minute presentations on their products.



5.	IBM Technology Xcceleration 2023 (october). IBM annual Latin America leadership team meeting in Campos do Jordao, Sao Paulo – Brasil. In the picture with colleagues from Peru and Colombia.
Fabiola: October 2023 - IBM annual Latin America leadership team meeting in Sao Paulo, Brasil. In the picture with colleagues from Peru and Colombia.

When some team members expressed doubts about fitting all the necessary information into such a short time, Fabiola didn’t hesitate. “I told them, ‘Okay, I’ll do it. Give me your presentations, and I’ll study them,’” she recalls. At the meeting, she delivered each segment with precision, focusing on how their solutions could address the client’s needs. 


The client left impressed, and Fabiola’s team was inspired. “They were surprised that I could make such a detailed presentation in such a short time, but I wanted them to see that it was possible,” she says.


Finding Joy in the Journey

Whether it was guiding a team through a complex project or handling a tough negotiation, Fabiola’s philosophy remains consistent: find joy in the work. “When you’re having fun, you’re not just working—you’re on an adventure,” she says. Her passion and positivity are infectious, creating an environment where team members feel empowered to bring their best selves to the table.


It’s a mindset that served her well during her time in tech and one that she’s carried into her next chapter as an entrepreneur.

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