Macarena Estevez Munoz
Partner, Consulting - Deloitte Spain
We are the women in AI—the women who are at the forefront of transformation. We look at challenges from a different angle, drive innovation with impact, and are passionate about AI that champions diversity and fairness. We are the women in AI—but we represent only 26% of data and AI positions in the workforce1. There should be more of us. If you are in AI today, let us help you grow. If not, come and join us.
She grew her love of mathematics into a passion for AI
Maca Estévez Munoz designs and adapts data models for her clients that focus on real-time data analysis. Utilizing the power of AI and connecting the dots in large data sets, she helps them tackle their “big problems” by making sense of large amounts of data and by improving their data-driven insights and overall decision-making.
Constantly challenging the status quo, creating something new and being able to drive innovation while helping people is what Macarena likes most about being a partner in Deloitte Spain’s AI & Data offering. This is what made her start a career in AI in the first place: “I fell in love with mathematics, and then I started working and realized that I could help people, help companies solve important problems.”
She emphasizes that it is no longer good enough to only have information available in real time. We now need decisions and solutions in real time, too. This is a turning point, and it is also where AI becomes crucial. “I think AI brings everything in real time, and in some sense we can contribute to creating the future,” she says. “And this makes me feel like I’m doing something important.”
Maca’s passion for math started early during her studies. She still studies it daily and has never lost her natural curiosity. “At the beginning of my career, I was the one doing the math. Today I can sit with my team, understand what they are doing, and give suggestions not just from a mathematical point of view, but also considering the business of our clients.”
She initially thought about becoming a teacher, but after discovering firsthand the positive impact math and AI can have, she decided to start a career in business. Eventually she founded her own company, which specialized in developing strategic decisions based on the formulation of mathematical models, and later joined Deloitte Spain. When asked about what it is like to work for Deloitte, Maca draws a comparison from the world of soccer: “Before, when I had my own company, it was like playing soccer in my small town, and now I feel like I’m playing for Real Madrid. And that really makes me proud.”
Maca is also confident that there is a large amount of untapped potential in AI with huge benefits for business and society: “I think AI is here to help us. It is not here to take people out of the equation. AI is going to help us to improve by working alongside machines, and it brings us to what we call the ‘Age of With’: the age of humans with machines.”
Reflecting on her own choices and experiences, she encourages women to join the field of AI and to be bold: “My advice to women would be to learn by doing, and don’t be afraid. AI can be nearly anyone who is interested.”
