Clàudia Nadal, a student pursuing a double degree in Telecommunication Systems, Sound and Image Engineering, and Audiovisual Communication at the Gandia campus of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), participated in the fourth edition of the Emplea program. This initiative combines training, teamwork, and exposure to the professional world. Her team, also comprising Marta Carrión, Melissa Loya, and Marina Ortells, secured third prize for a project aimed at El Corte Inglés: “Design of a comprehensive tool capable of defining and optimizing the necessary resources for the omnichannel department”.
Emplea is a UPV initiative designed to foster employability and female leadership. In this edition, 40 students and 12 mentors collaborated in teams over several months to tackle challenges posed by major companies, receiving specialized training and guidance from university professionals. Clàudia decided to join as she was nearing the completion of her studies, seeking to engage in a real-world challenge and connect with students who had different backgrounds but similar aspirations.
Clàudia's team developed a tool named Kairós, intended to enhance the planning and organization of the workforce within the Omnichannel Department at El Corte Inglés's Avenida de Francia branch. For all four team members, participating in Emplea represented an opportunity to step outside their comfort zones, apply their knowledge, and confront a genuine professional challenge. For Clàudia, the recognition served as confirmation that hard work, perseverance, and cooperation can lead to achieving seemingly difficult goals.
The students particularly highlighted the motivation of their peers and the complementary nature of their skill sets. Marina Ortells, studying a double degree in Computer Engineering and Business Administration (ADE), views the award as recognition for three months of intensive work. Melissa Loya, an ADE student, described the experience as a lesson in perseverance and a chance to overcome self-doubt. Marta Carrión, from the Digital Technology and Multimedia Degree, emphasized the significant boost in confidence the award provided. The strong rapport established from day one, fostered by an atmosphere of trust, communication, and mutual support, was crucial in developing their proposal.
As a memorable anecdote, the four students initially used an edited photo of themselves with the prize as their WhatsApp group image—a 'vision board'—which they later replaced with an actual photograph holding their award after the ceremony. Clàudia Nadal is pictured second from the right in the recognition photo.
