Daniela Guerrero profile

Daniela Guerrero

The transformation happening in industries globally has caused an increase in women occupying leadership positions and leading the way for positive progress within their companies, including sectors that have been heavily male-dominated like engineering and transportation. Women are playing a pivotal role in these industries and companies are beginning to take note. One such example is the Doppelmayr Group, a major player in the cable car and ropeway industry.

At Doppelmayr, Daniela Guerrero has emerged as a trailblazer in this movement. As the Chief Financial Officer, Guerrero exemplifies the qualities of a forward-thinking leader. Her strategic financial acumen, coupled with a commitment to innovation, has not only contributed to the success of Doppelmayr but has also positioned her as a notable figure in the finance and technology sectors.

With her visionary leadership, Daniela Guerrero is certainly one of “The Most Impactful CFOs to Watch in 2024.” Her accomplishments serve as an inspiration, not only for women aspiring to leadership roles but for professionals across the spectrum. As we celebrate the strides made by women in various industries, Guerrero’s story adds another dimension to the narrative of women leading the way and making a lasting impact on the business world.

How it all Started

Daniela was born in the small town of San Juan De Pasto, Colombia as the youngest of three sisters, in a very traditional and hardworking family. Coming from a family of teachers and principals and growing up in an education-oriented environment, Daniela had a natural inclination towards continuous learning. She constantly scored top marks in her classes winning praises and awards. Also, her talent in Math motivated her to stand for her school during the National Mathematical Olympiads and attained good results in the process.

Daniela’s ravenous quest for knowledge didn’t stop with academics at all. She was also keen on the arts, literature as well as sports. She developed a liking for music and taught herself to play the guitar and piano and was active in basketball, skating and athletics. She excelled in music competitions and sports champions as both an individual and in a team.

Two important situations influenced her trajectory. She participated in a literary competition on “Don Quijote de La Mancha,” which was held in Spain to celebrate its 400 years since the book was published. Through this contest, she emerged as the first prize winner with her essay “Una Locura Feliz,” taking her to Spain as a representative of her country .

This experience motivated Daniela to study Business Administration in Bogota. She took up leadership positions while at the prestigious Universidad Del Rosario, among them becoming the Colegial de Número, contributing to the university administration, and representing the institution in several platforms.

A Scholarly Odyssey

Graduating with a degree in Business Administration from the prestigious Universidad Del Rosario in Colombia, Daniela’s early academic years laid the foundation for her multifaceted career.

Driven by her love for finance, leadership, and management, Daniela pursued a second degree at the same university, specializing in International Business Administration and Finance. This deliberate choice further honed her expertise in finance and expanded the horizons of her career. Concurrently, she enriched her academic experience through participation in the exchange program with the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

To augment her qualifications, Daniela earned an MBA from the ESDEN Business School and the Catholic University of San Antonio de Murcia in Spain. This international exposure broadened her perspective and deepened her understanding of global business dynamics.

Recognizing the evolving landscape of the business world, Daniela undertook several specialized courses covering diverse areas such as IFRS accounting, tax regulations, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, digitalization, sustainable investing, and financial accounting. Her commitment to continuous learning extended beyond the financial realm, encompassing courses in leadership, E-Leadership, E-Commerce, communication, and effective presentations, all aimed at developing her soft skills.

From a Trainee to Trailblazer

In 2010, Daniela Guerrero started her career by being a Finance trainee in the Energy sector of Siemens in Colombia. This was just the beginning of an exciting and multidisciplinary career that cut across different countries.

Daniela’s career was a sequence of jobs that covered various fields of Colombia as well as in different parts of Latin America, Europe, and within several areas of the company, including Healthcare industry and the Audit area. During her tenure, she fulfilled key roles like Bid Finance Manager, Finance Manager, and Controller for Projects. She also played different roles, such as auditing and head of finance and controlling for business units and countries.

In 2018, she joined Doppelmayr, a world-class cable transport company whose technology is cutting edge. Subsequently, Doppelmayr wanted to strengthen its presence in Latin America and lead the way in urban transportation via ropeway systems. Thereby, Daniela was in-charge for reshaping financial systems at subsidiary level to ensure alignment with corporate policies. This entailed the active inclusion and participation in the strategic directions and regional consolidation of the company.

As the CFO

As the CFO for Latin America, Daniela was responsible for overseeing the financial strategies, business support, accounting, planning, analysis, execution and reporting in the region. “I’m responsible for the supervision and guidance of the LATAM Controllers and Finance teams and for the implementation and support of compliance with corporate regulations, as well as process optimization and direct reporting to headquarters”, Daniela shared.

When we further asked her to elaborate on her primary focus as the CFO, she further added – “My focus during these years has been to consolidate the structures of the companies in the region, and also ensure that we have a qualified financial team, as well as good external advisors mainly for tax and audit processes”. “And in this pursuit me and my team end up creating and standardize reporting processes and control and ensure the quality and compliance of budgets, forecasts, and financial plans, analyze financing strategies, as well as effectively coordinate working capital, investments and income”, Daniela elaborated.

Apart from her actual role as the CFO, Daniela also completely partakes in learning and upgrading, in order to stay updated with world trends and demands, and consumer behavior. She also goes beyond her normal finance duties to understand the business model and technical issues of the equipment and technology the company offers, in turn, guiding the company towards successfully establishing a HUB for Latin America in Mexico for it to be the center designed to support activities related to the business.

Knowing Daniela Guerrero

Daniela considers music as a hobby but also uses it as a way to detach the demands of her job. She has been writing songs and playing the guitar since childhood, and this serves as a joy in creating this outlet of music.

Besides her other commitments, Daniela enjoys traveling and being with her parents, sisters, nephews, and friends. Over time, Daniela realized that even in her field of work, there are a lot of hurdles to strike a good work-life balance. Balance remains crucial in the lives of individuals as it has several benefits on both personal and professional levels leading to better physical, mental and professional wellness.

According to Daniela, achieving work-life balance is necessary for decreasing stress levels and enhancing employees’ lives as a whole. She applies personal strategies and those of her team to ensure satisfaction from both perspectives. This includes promoting flexible working hours, respecting the working rest days, organizing group activities with a view of fostering better relationships among team members, and re-emphasizing that productivity is not all about time.

On a Personal Note

Outside of her professional responsibilities, Noëlle Demole enjoys a variety of hobbies that contribute to her personal growth and well-being. She practices boxing to stay fit and build resilience, and she has a passion for freediving with sharks, whales, and orcas, allowing her to connect with marine life. Growing up in Switzerland, skiing has always been a significant part of her life. She loves salsa dancing for its social and creative aspects and is currently training for the Mont Blanc summit, which challenges her physically and mentally. Caring for her white shepherd, Leon, and running with him helps her relax and stay active. She also enjoys organizing movie nights with friends and swimming in the lake, a practice she learned from her mother. These diverse activities help Noëlle maintain a balanced and fulfilling life, enabling her to stay energized and focused on her professional and entrepreneurial pursuits.

Advancing Menstrual Equity

Noëlle Demole is optimistic about the future of the broader movement for menstrual equity, which is gaining significant momentum worldwide. In Switzerland and beyond, important conversations and debates are unfolding regarding various aspects of menstrual equity. These discussions include the prominence of providing women with menstrual leave to address the impact of menstrual pain and discomfort on productivity and well-being. Some countries and companies are beginning to implement such policies. Additionally, there is a growing push for free access to period products in public spaces globally, including schools, universities, workplaces, and other facilities, aiming to eradicate period poverty.

The demand for organic and safer alternatives, such as organic cotton, has increased as a result of the growing awareness of the health hazards associated with conventional menstrual products. Countries are also reevaluating taxes on menstrual products to make them more affordable by recognizing them as essential items rather than luxury commodities. In an effort to guarantee educational access for all students, legislative initiatives and experimental projects in numerous countries are designed to mandate the use of free-period products in schools.

Noëlle Demole sees the present moment in Switzerland as a distinctive opportunity with significant potential for the development and implementation of solutions for reproductive equity. She is of the opinion that Egidays can play a critical role in this movement. She is a fervent proponent of universal access to menstrual products, underscoring the significance of addressing period poverty on a global scale through Egidays. Shere Khan Youth Protection, an NGO established in 2018, receives approximately 10% of Egidays’ revenue to provide financial assistance to students, a reflection of her dedication to social impact.