“Sport has always been linked to my professional career”. Judith Rubinat (Sabadell, 1975) has worked for some of the best brands and entities in the world of sport on a global level: Director of Communication at Nike Iberia for 13 years, Director of Sponsorship at the Spanish Olympic Committee, Director of Service and Partner Activation at FC Barcelona and, now, CEO of Mikakus Barcelona, the sneaker company founded by football world champion Andrés Iniesta.

TB: What is the purpose of your project?

JR: Mikakus Barcelona, “the sneakers brand from Barcelona to the world”, was born in 2018 when Andrés Iniesta went to live in Japan and discovered the way the Japanese understand fashion and style. From our physical shop in Barcelona and our ecommerce, we offer a proposal of design and quality sneakers for those who do not want to dress in “uniform”, which is committed to supporting the energy of cities and projects that promote change.

TB: A good idea you have had.

JR: Becoming a mother.

TB: The best advice you’ve ever been given.

JR: Don’t run away. The importance of facing challenges and difficult situations rather than avoiding them.

TB: A professional reference that inspires you.

JR: My mother, an entrepreneurial, vital and loving woman.

TB: A technology that will shape the future.

JR: There is no better technology than the human brain.

TB: What are you worried about?

JR: I am an optimist by nature.

TB: A startup.

JR: There are many startups running amazing projects. It is difficult to choose one, but in order not to stray from the world of sport, I choose Fittest Freakest, an example of a business specialising in crossfit where the community plays a very important role. It is a project that unites the online world (ecommerce), the offline (retail) and the strength of the community through events with a global impact.

TB: A book to recommend.

JR: “Permagel” by Eva Baltasar.

TB: A series, film or song that defines your moment in life.

JR: A classic series: “Friends”. There’s always an episode that brings a smile to your face, one you can relate to, one you’d like to be a part of, and one with the typical situation you’d never want to be in. Life itself.

TB: A recipe, a meal, a restaurant.

JR: Els Pescadors Restaurant, in Poblenou. A classic, which is still a classic, with a high quality product offer and the best terrace in Barcelona.

TB: A city, a journey.

JR: Kobe, Mikakus Barcelona’s second home.

TB: Where would you invest 100k?

JR: At Capitten, Andrés Iniesta’s football brand, where I also work as CEO in Europe and global CMO. Capitten represents the values of football, values that are being lost and that are the basis that made it the king of sports. Capitten offers an honest proposition based on the founder’s understanding of football.

TB: And a million euros?

JR: In Capitten as well.

TB: If you weren’t an entrepreneur…

JR: Once you have started as an entrepreneur, I doubt there is any turning back.

TB: What is Tech Barcelona for you?

JR: For me, Tech Barcelona is synonymous with connection and an opportunity to add talent, enthusiasm and vision from the best city, Barcelona.