Experts speak:
Get to know Beatriz Domínguez, design and development manager of our Lubricants
My name is Beatriz Domínguez and I'm a chemical engineer. I work at the Repsol Technology Lab, in the product design area. I've been working on the development of lubricants for all kinds of vehicles for more than 15 years, and for the past few years I've been proud to also participate in the development of the lubricant used by our Repsol Honda MotoGP team.
How were your professional beginnings?
The beginnings in a new area are always tough, because you're starting with new people and, above all, new knowledge is required. In my case, I was completely unfamiliar with the world of lubricants, and, in the end, I ended up speaking its language.
How did you perceive the path to reach your current position of responsibility leading such an important area?
It above all required a lot of effort, a lot of work, to learn from my colleagues, and studying. We are continuously updating knowledge and acquiring new knowledge.
I think that teamwork is also very important. I've been lucky to have some exceptional colleagues, who have helped me, and continue to do so, in my professional career.
What challenges have you had to face to get to where you are?
The challenges have mostly been technical, which are inherent to our career. The more knowledge you have, the more complex and impactful things you do, which also sometimes require a touch of creativity. The biggest challenge in my professional career has been to get out of my comfort zone, to stop doing purely technical things, and dedicate myself to managing people, partnerships, and resources.
How would you rate your professional experience in the scientific sector?
If I had to define my experience with one word it would be "simple". I've always had a scientific vocation. I was lucky to be able to study a scientific degree and dedicate my professional life to research and development. In the end, everything has been very easy.
What future challenges are there in the world of lubricants? Do you think more profiles like yours will be necessary?
Since I joined Repsol, the world of lubricants hasn't stopped evolving and, of course, it continues to do so. I think that the biggest challenge now in the sector is the decarbonization of industry and, with the help of technical profiles such as ours, we will be perfectly prepared to tackle it
What role will science and technology play to achieve the decarbonization of the lubricants industry?
The decarbonization of a products portfolio as extensive and diverse as the Lubricants one, with such a varied life cycle casuistry, means that, in the coming years, the challenge facing the technical areas, together with other areas such as Logistics, Operations, or Processes, will be enormous.
We have to completely change the way we formulate, manufacture, and market products that have been on the market for many years, without changing their performance one iota, but reducing their environmental impact and carbon footprint. Therefore, the role of science and technology, supported by new computational tools that help us to make product design more efficient and faster, will be key in the coming years to give a 360º turnaround to our current products.
What changes have you noticed in the scientific area since you arrived at Repsol?
When I started my professional career at Repsol, all my scientific colleagues were men, I was the only woman. However, this did not pose any difficulty for me, nor did it make things any easier. Since I arrived at Repsol, until now, there has been a positive evolution in the number of women dedicated to this scientific work. There are above all more women in leadership positions thanks to their worth, knowledge, and value contribution to the company.
What would you tell young people to make them curious about professional careers like yours?
There is a phrase that I have always liked: "they did not know it was impossible so they did it". I would tell them that nothing is impossible, and that the limits are only those that they set themselves.
