Some career paths can't be explained solely by positions, companies, or figures. They're better understood when we talk about education, decisions, and perspectives on life. Víctor Martín's is one of them.
Study ADE at the San Pablo-CEU University in Madrid, but his story begins much earlier. At just 13 and 14 years old, he traveled to Boston He also traveled to other parts of the United States to perfect his English. That experience not only allowed him to master English; it introduced him to the American educational model, to a different way of understanding education, economic thought, and the professional world. It was also then that his interest in the United States and in financial markets, especially volatile markets, was sparked.
In that process, there is a key figure: his father. From him, he received a lesson that would mark his entire life: education as a legacy. Pursuing a good education was not an option, but a responsibility. Today, Víctor acknowledges that this same legacy is what he wishes to pass on to his children.
After university, he studies Master's Degree in Financial Markets from CEU San PabloIt was a program with a key feature: the professors themselves selected talent for high-level positions. This led to his entry into investment banking and later into Treasury and Capital Markets, working in environments linked to US trading desks. This marked the beginning of his time at Santander Investment, where he began to operate in a highly demanding environment.
When he talks about financial markets, he introduces an unusual reflection: the volatilityHe explains that this shouldn't be understood as permanent instability, but as an opportunity. A strategic vision that can only be achieved with experience and perspective. Opportunity, as a value, lies within constant change.
At less than 25 years old, he joins Arthur AndersonHe worked as a strategic consultant in the financial sector. It was a high-pressure environment, with significant responsibility and daunting figures. A world where money and the pace could easily lead to extreme lifestyles. However, he describes it matter-of-factly: it was an intense, demanding, and, in some ways, stimulating period. A lot of work, a lot of travel, and a strong connection with the Latin American market for over six years. Then came... EY...another of the major international firms. It is then that a deeper reflection arises. We ask her if this environment of pressure and high salaries doesn't end up conditioning one's way of life. Her answer is clear: she speaks of fulfillment, of conscious choice, and of an idea that runs through the entire conversation: true elegance lies in how you manage money, not in how much you have.
He doesn't like flattery. He does like sales, understood as negotiation. He's an expert at it and currently teaches master's programs at universities in Madrid, where he teaches negotiation techniques from a practical and human perspective. His experience and background in a highly competitive world have allowed him to become a specialist in this field. When we ask him about his life today, he doesn't hesitate to describe it as fulfilling and family-oriented. Without artifice.
His incorporation into CLERHP Structures as Corporate General ManagerUnder the leadership of Juan Andrés Romero, this marks a turning point. He recognizes in him virtues he had previously only seen in large, publicly traded companies on the IBEX 35: a day-to-day vision, courage, a close connection to the business, and an exceptional work ethic. He doesn't mention names out of mere admiration, but rather leadership styles that are experienced daily; he recognizes Juan Andrés as the new Botín of the integrated urban development management sector.
At CLERHP, he says he found real challenges, the kind that rekindle his professional enthusiasm. He rediscovered the desire to give his best, to dedicate his entire career, his judgment, his character, and his expertise to a project.
At the end of our conversation, when we'd left markets and strategy behind, we asked him for a book and a perfect plan. He smiled. The plan was simple: BBQ and family, no interruptions. The book, The Leopard. And for a film reference, The Lucky Star. Perhaps therein lies the key to everything. In understanding that true success doesn't always make a fuss. Sometimes, it simply consists of knowing how to choose well.
Macarena Perona
D. Communication