Jose Maria Pestaña Sartorius

1. How has your career path changed up until now?
My career has evolved across industries and geographies, always at the intersection of transformation and people. I’ve worked in sectors such as TravelTech, Telecom, Biopharma, Logistics and Consulting — often in environments going through M&A, IPOs or large-scale innovation. While my academic background is in Business and Marketing, I’ve held C-level roles in HR, Communications and ESG, both in public and private equity-backed companies. Recently, I’ve leaned into innovation and public-private collaboration, particularly in the hospitality space.

2. ⁠Did you have a mentor who helped you get to where you are now? If so, what would you say is the most important thing you learned from your mentor?
Yes, I’ve been lucky to have several mentors throughout my career — each of them meaningful at a different moment, and each one leaving a lasting impression. What they all had in common connects with one of my favorite quotes, from Maya Angelou:

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

The best mentors didn’t just give advice — they listened, challenged me with empathy, and created the space for me to grow. They taught me that leadership isn’t about control, it’s about impact — and impact always starts with how you treat people.⁠

3. What advice would you give to those pursuing their first business venture?
Surround yourself with people who challenge your thinking but share your values. Stay close to your customers. And don’t fall in love with your initial idea — fall in love with the problem you’re solving. Flexibility is more powerful than perfection.

4. How do you overcome risk when it comes to making business decisions?
By framing risk as part of learning. I try to combine data with intuition, but most importantly, I ask myself: what’s the cost of doing nothing? I’ve learned that uncertainty is unavoidable but being paralyzed by it, is a choice.

My international experience has also taught me that cultural context deeply shapes how we approach decisions and manage risk.

In France, I learned the power of building teams with the very best in each field — excellence comes from collective intelligence.

In Anglo-Saxon environments, I understood how vital delivery is: you adapt your process to the deadline, not the other way around. Focus and execution matter most.

And in Spain, I saw how creativity and flexibility can offer multiple paths to the same goal — it’s not always about one “right” way, but the smartest one for the context.

5. Why did you decide to become a mentor/investor for the Hospitality Innovation Hub Incubator?
Because it brings together three things I care deeply about: the next generation of talent, purposeful innovation, and the evolution of hospitality as a force for good. Supporting young entrepreneurs while collaborating with academic leaders like Dr. Richie Karaburun at NYU has been both meaningful and inspiring.

6. What book are you reading now?
I’m reading The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster. I hadn’t read anything by him before, but after his passing last year, I felt compelled to dive into his work. It’s been an unexpected but rewarding discovery.⁠

7. What is your favorite vacation destination?
Anywhere, as long as it’s with my family. Lately, we’ve enjoyed short getaways to places like Comporta in Portugal, and when my kids were younger, we had wonderful summers in Greece and Corsica. That said, two destinations are always part of our lives: Andalusia, for its warmth and rhythm, and of course, the Balearic Islands, which feel like home — a perfect mix of nature, culture and connection.⁠

8. What is your favorite movie?
I enjoy movies that teach you something, that tell compelling stories with powerful characters — the kind that stay with you long after the credits roll. Lately, I’ve been particularly drawn to the work of Paolo Sorrentino. His films are visually stunning and emotionally rich, with a unique mix of poetry, irony and truth. La Grande Bellezza is a favorite — it’s not just a film, it’s a reflection on life, purpose and beauty.

9. Any last words you would like to share…
Invest in people. In any sector, at any stage, and in any challenge — it always comes down to people. That’s where resilience, innovation and impact begin.