I want to wish a happy 100-episode milestone to Daniel Herrero and El Podcast del Agua.
I’m not usually one to celebrate numbers for their own sake, but in this case, it truly represents something valuable.
I’m reminded of our conversation when he was about a year into the journey, shared above.
It’s interesting to see how things evolve, back then, the preference was clearly for audio, and now it’s shifting toward video and face-to-face interviews. That’s real progress!
This podcast has become a great source of inspiration and learning, especially for the Spanish and LATAM water community.
I wish him all the best moving forward and hope he continues to receive the support from all of us, because that’s the real fuel behind initiatives like this.
A career built on curiosity
Daniel’s entry into the water world was almost accidental.
After finishing his chemistry degree in the early 2000s, he sent out paper resumes by mail, searching for any opportunity in the chemical sector.
He ended up at Aqualia, a company he originally associated with waste management rather than chemistry.
This taught me that sometimes the best career paths are the ones we don't plan, provided we are willing to dive in and learn once we arrive.
The necessity of lifelong learning
Daniel is committted to education. Even with a solid background, he returned to study engineering while raising a family.
He didn't stop there; he pursued specialized courses in wastewater treatment and even an MBA.
In our sector, technical expertise is the foundation, but it is not the ceiling.
To grow into management or leadership, we have to find time, often from our own personal hours, to gain new perspectives.
Transitioning from technical to managerial roles
Daniel pursued an MBA (but not the good one…the real The Water MBA 😜) because he wanted to move from being a "calculator" or technical manager to a more strategic role.
This transition is common but difficult.
He found that while technical skills are precise, roles in leadership require an understanding of marketing, human resources, and accounting.
The MBA provided a broad, high level view of these areas, which allowed him to see the "water business" as a whole, rather than just a series of technical processes.
Creating space for new initiatives
The birth of El Podcast del Agua is a perfect example of Daniel's drive.
Despite a demanding job and family life, he found a gap in the market for high quality audio content in Spanish about water.
He even took a course on podcasting to ensure a professional standard.
It reminds me that we all have "extra" time if we look for it, and using that time to share knowledge can benefit the entire community.
So, cheers to the next 100 episodes, and to enjoying every step of the journey ahead.
