Amaia Lesta, Founder of Develop At Work Ltd., shares how adaptability, self-awareness, and joy have shaped her leadership journey.

She reflects on the internal challenges women often face - like setting boundaries and learning to say no - and why protecting your energy is not just important, but essential.

Her advice to women entering the tech world? Say yes before you're ready. No one has it all figured out, and growth comes from stepping into new spaces—even when they feel unfamiliar.

Her mantra? Take up space. Protect your energy. And don’t forget to have fun along the way.

Read more from Amaia here…

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What has been your career defining moment as a woman in business?

In 2011, the financial crisis had slowed things down in Spain and the projects I loved working on as an engineer weren’t coming through. At the same time, I was going through personal changes and took a holiday abroad and the seed of wanting to move abroad was planted.

Completely out of the blue, the week I came back from that holiday, a recruiter found my profile online and offered me a role in France. Within a month, I had moved to Toulouse.

I didn’t speak French, and yet I found myself leading a multicultural, multilingual team spread across four countries. It was a sink-or-swim moment, and I discovered how adaptable I really am.

That experience shaped how I work and live to this day. It taught me how much I enjoy figuring things out from Scratch, new roles, new teams, new languages, and how much energy I get from working across cultures and creating healthy teams that have fun making an impact with their work and their presence.

Were there any obstacles you had to overcome as a woman in business?

Early in my career, I was fortunate to work in a department with many women in tech, so I didn’t immediately notice barriers. But looking back, the biggest obstacle has been internal: around setting boundaries.

"Saying no, setting limits, even if it means disappointing others, it’s still something I’m learning."

I often prioritised others’ needs over my own, which left me overcommitted and stretched. I don’t think that’s unique to women, but it’s something I’ve observed a lot. Saying no, setting limits, even if it means disappointing others, it’s still something I’m learning.

And I’ve realised that while people expect you to speak up for yourself, not everyone will notice if you don’t. So the work of protecting our energy and standing up for our space often has to come from within.

What advice would you give to a younger woman looking to join your industry?

In many sectors, and specially in tech, everything changes fast. No one has it all figured out. And if they do, it won’t last long. So my advice is: don’t wait until you feel fully ready. Say yes before you feel ready. Every role I’ve taken was new to me. I never just moved from the same role in one company to another.

You might hear “no,” and that’s fine. It’s not always about you. It’s often about timing or team capacity. But if you don’t put yourself forward, you remove yourself from the equation before the conversation even begins.

If you could do one thing to accelerate the pace of change for gender equality, what would it be?

I’d work to normalise the idea that women don’t have to meet every criterion to go for a role or speak in a room. We don’t need to know everything before we contribute. Creating spaces, especially in early career settings, where women are invited and supported to take part before they feel ready would make a real difference.

What compelled you to attend a Panelle event?

I’m drawn to spaces where people genuinely want to grow, and where they want others to grow too. Panelle brings together people who are generous with their stories, willing to challenge ideas, and open to learning from each other. Every time I join, I leave with a new perspective and a nudge to look at something in a different way.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Have more fun. Let go of needing to do everything perfectly. Laugh more. Don’t be afraid to bring joy into the journey, and invite others into it too.

What’s your go-to advice for preventing burnout?

Watch for “burn-on.” That moment where things aren’t okay, but you keep going anyway.

"I’m balancing activities that fuel my body, my mind, my connection with others, and my joy."

I check in with myself regularly, using simple habits from cognitive behavioural therapy - to track whether I’m balancing activities that fuel my body, my mind, my connection with others, and my joy.

Small things help. Gratitude journaling, visualisation, breathing exercises. You don’t need a dramatic reset, just consistent ways to check you’re still okay.

Why do you think it’s important for women to help other women win?

Because sometimes what holds us back isn’t skill, it’s doubt. I’ve coached and mentored incredible women who were waiting to feel “ready” when they already had everything they needed. When they start believing in themselves, the change is visible, and the ripple effect is powerful.

"We need more women who feel they belong wherever they want to be."

We need more women in decision-making roles. And we need more women who feel they belong wherever they want to be. That only happens when we support each other to go for it.

Finally, please put the spotlight on another woman in business who either inspires you or has pulled out the seat for you.

This is a difficult one. I have when fortunate to walk my path with many inspiring women. I will choose one woman with whom I have worked for nearly 10 years, Maria del Carmen Almazan, one of my colleagues at Vodafone.

When we started working together we were both individual contributors and later became managers around the same time. She has this quiet strength, never gives up on people, always holds the space for them to grow and holds them accountable to do it in a supportive yet assertive way.

She knows how to challenge without losing connection, and I’ve seen how much impact that has had on her teams, and on me too. She leads with clarity, care, and consistency. And she’s the kind of teammate who shows up when it counts.

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