Every leader has a defining philosophy, but for Juan Mateos, CEO of Juniper Travel Technology, that philosophy is inseparable from his roots. Raised in a family of entrepreneurs, he grew up watching his grandparents and parents run small yet dynamic businesses fueled by determination, adaptability, and passion. From those early lessons, one truth became clear to him: success is built on effort.
What he absorbed as a child, perseverance in the face of challenges, integrity in decision-making, and resilience in uncertain times, has shaped the leader he is today. It has inspired his belief in teamwork, collaboration, and innovation as the foundations of building something both solid and enduring.
During his student years, Juan was further influenced by mentors who bridged theory with real-world application. Among them was Juan Manuel Corchado, now Rector of the University of Salamanca, whose pioneering approach to knowledge transfer showed him that the exchange between academia and business fuels progress and strengthens companies.
Another lasting inspiration came from Jaime Sastre, founder of Juniper and current CEO of Juniper Group. Sastre’s boundless energy, charisma, and ability to unite diverse teams left an indelible mark on Juan’s own leadership style. Today, he applies those lessons with his own character and vision, striving to connect with every level of the company while driving Juniper forward with human-centered, transformative leadership.
Juan sees that leadership is not about titles or power; it is about effort, authenticity, and the pursuit of shared growth. It is a journey shaped by values passed down through family, refined by mentors, and proven in the way he leads one of the most influential travel technology companies in the world.
A Vision that Grew into a Global Force
When Juan first joined Juniper Travel Technology as a Project Manager, he was struck by the company’s ability to create value in every market it entered. Even then, the Juniper Booking Engine stood out as a product with the potential to transform how businesses operated in the travel sector. Over the years, that early promise has grown into a robust, versatile solution enriched with multiple modules designed to meet the evolving needs of the industry.
Now, as CEO, Juan has taken that original vision of technological excellence and international expansion and expanded it into something far greater: a culture of shared growth, transparency, and continuous improvement. He sees people as Juniper’s true driving force and has introduced initiatives such as “Life at Juniper,” which places employee wellbeing, professional development, and integration at the heart of the company’s strategy.
Under his leadership, Juniper’s objectives are not simply top-down directives but transparent, measurable goals that cascade across teams and departments. Monthly reviews ensure that strategy remains dynamic and responsive to customer needs. In Juan’s view, nothing is undertaken without a clear and measurable purpose. This approach has propelled Juniper to global recognition as a company capable of anticipating industry trends while delivering solutions that genuinely shape the future of travel technology.
“Effort with strategy transforms dreams into achievements.”
Future of Travel Technology
Today, Juniper Travel Technology stands as a global leader in B2B distribution, particularly within the accommodation sector. Companies of all sizes and across multiple regions rely on its technology as a trusted benchmark. Yet Juan’s ambitions extend well beyond one vertical.
He envisions Juniper at the heart of a dynamic ecosystem that spans all areas of the travel industry. By providing integrated, flexible, and modular solutions, Juniper aims to help companies increase profitability, strengthen competitiveness, and adapt seamlessly to changing market conditions.
Juan describes Juniper as more than just a technology provider. He sees the company as a catalyst for innovation, pushing forward intelligent digitalisation and encouraging collaboration between diverse industry players. With this strategy, Juniper is positioning itself not only as a leader today but as a driving force of transformation in the global travel technology landscape for years to come.
Leadership, Balance, and Leading by Example
For Juan, being CEO of a global company comes with immense responsibility, but also with the challenge of maintaining personal balance. He believes strongly in being approachable and present for his teams, offering guidance and resources to help them succeed. At the same time, he recognises that to inspire others, he must first prioritise his own wellbeing.
His greatest source of motivation comes from time spent with his family. Those moments provide him with renewed focus and energy, which he brings back into his role. It is this grounding in personal life that fuels his professional clarity.
Juan also leads with trust. He empowers his teams with autonomy and equips them with the tools they need to excel independently. This creates a resilient structure, one that is not reliant on any single person but thrives on collective strength.
In his philosophy, work-life balance is not a fixed state but an ongoing process, rooted in trust and mutual support. When that balance is achieved, both people and the company grow stronger together. Under his example, Juniper Travel Technology is not only advancing as an industry leader but also cultivating a sustainable culture where wellbeing and performance are inseparable.
“Leadership is exercised by example.”
The Test of a Lifetime
Juan’s tenure as CEO began under extraordinary circumstances. Just weeks after stepping into the role at Juniper Travel Technology, the world was struck by the COVID-19 pandemic. Overnight, the global travel industry, Juniper’s core environment, came to a standstill. What followed was, in his words, “the most frenetic and demanding period” of his career.
Revenue dropped sharply, uncertainty loomed, and the responsibility of safeguarding not only the company’s future but also the families that make up Juniper weighed heavily on his shoulders. Swift action was the only option. Contingency plans were designed at record speed, balancing customer support with necessary internal adjustments. Unlike many peers in the industry, Juniper managed to limit the impact on its workforce, preserving talent and maintaining team cohesion during those turbulent months.
Through open communication, transparency, and the collective commitment of its people, Juniper not only weathered the storm but rebounded quickly. Within a short time, financial performance returned to pre-pandemic levels, laying the foundation for the sustained growth the company enjoys today.
Juan shares that the experience was transformative. It reinforced his belief in resilience, adaptability, and the value of leading with a united, professional team. What began as a crisis ultimately forged a stronger management model and an organisational culture prepared for whatever challenges lie ahead.
Strategic Choices That Redefined Growth
Juniper’s rise as a global benchmark in travel technology has not been accidental, it has been the result of deliberate and forward-looking decisions. From the outset of his leadership, Juan sought to reshape the perception of Juniper’s value in the marketplace. Once considered a premium, costly solution, the company has successfully repositioned itself as one of the most efficient and cost-effective platforms available.
This shift came through flexible commercial policies tailored to diverse client needs, making Juniper’s solutions accessible to organisations of all sizes. At the same time, investment in innovation became a driving force. Under Juan’s guidance, Juniper introduced business intelligence tools that enable customers to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Centralised architectures have optimised processes and enhanced scalability, while shared applications have encouraged collaboration and resource efficiency.
Perhaps most notably, the integration of Artificial Intelligence has opened new frontiers in automation and personalisation, pushing Juniper further ahead of market demands. Together, these innovations reflect not just isolated successes but a coherent, long-term vision that prioritises customer value and positions Juniper at the forefront of technological progress in travel.
“Strategy with effort turns the improbable into reality.”
Guiding the Next Generation of Leaders
Beyond technology and growth strategies, Juan is deeply invested in people. He sees the identification and nurturing of emerging leaders as one of his most important responsibilities. Those who show initiative and potential are given opportunities to shoulder greater responsibility and tackle complex challenges.
His philosophy is clear: courage is more valuable than perfection. He would rather see a developing leader make a mistake while acting decisively than hold back out of fear. Passivity, he insists, is the true enemy of progress. Within Juniper, this mindset has created a culture where risk-taking, collaboration, and continuous learning are embraced as essential drivers of both personal and collective success.
As for his legacy, Juan hopes to be remembered not just for results but for his commitment to long-term wellbeing and sustainable growth. His vision is one of enduring impact, an organisation that thrives because it invests in its people, thinks ambitiously, and focuses on creating value that lasts. For him, true leadership is measured not by immediate gains, but by the ability to leave behind a stronger, more resilient company for future generations.
A Culture where Innovation Meets Inclusion
At Juniper Travel Technology, innovation is not confined to product development, it is a mindset woven into the company’s culture. Under Juan’s leadership, this culture rests on three non-negotiable principles: transparency, trust, and inclusivity.
Every team member is given full visibility into company objectives, strategies, and results. By sharing KPIs openly, employees feel directly connected to the company’s progress and achievements. This clarity fuels commitment, transforming goals into collective wins.
Juniper’s motto, “Work Hard, Play Hard,” also defines its spirit. Effort and creativity are expected, but so too is celebration, every milestone, big or small, is an opportunity to reinforce camaraderie and motivation. Within this environment, innovation thrives because people feel safe to experiment, contribute ideas, and even make mistakes.
Inclusivity is the other cornerstone. Diversity of perspectives is not only welcomed but seen as vital to solving challenges creatively. By ensuring that every voice has a place at the table, Juniper has built a culture where innovation and inclusion strengthen one another, creating a dynamic ecosystem that continues to propel the company forward.
“Innovation is born when talent is applied with attitude.”
Reflections for Aspiring CEOs
Juan is reluctant to frame his words as advice, preferring instead to share reflections from his own journey. For anyone aspiring to lead in the travel technology space, he believes the most essential trait is an innovative mindset, one that anticipates trends and adapts quickly to change.
He also stresses the importance of managing pressure wisely. Numbers and targets are unavoidable, but he insists they must be filtered so that teams absorb only the inspiration, not the anxiety. Leadership, in his view, lies in facing each challenge with the belief that any goal is achievable with clear strategy and consistent effort.
Transparency, resilience, and a willingness to learn from mistakes are qualities he holds up as vital. And above all, he underscores the importance of people: investing in their growth, fostering belonging, and cultivating positive ambition. Juan says that these are the qualities that allow a leader to build not just a successful company, but a lasting one.
Redefining Success
Juan’s definition of success has evolved over time. At its core, success for him means giving maximum effort with the right attitude and ensuring that everyone benefits from the journey. In other words, real achievement is always a “win-win.”
Yet he has also learned that success does not always come in the form of reaching a specific target. Sometimes, the greatest value lies in growth and improvement along the way, even when outcomes fall short of expectations. Failure, far from being a setback, has become a teacher that shapes his approach to each new challenge.
Today, he views success as a continuum: a series of connected achievements that build upon one another to create long-term progress. At Juniper, isolated wins are never enough. The company embraces a philosophy of continuous growth, where success is measured not just by milestones reached but by the ambition to pursue the next horizon.
The Achievement that Matters Most
Amid all the strategic partnerships, international expansions, and technological breakthroughs Juniper has achieved under his leadership, one accomplishment stands above the rest for Juan: the team itself.
Juniper today is a family of more than 500 professionals across the globe, and he takes pride in the environment that has been created for them. Beyond salaries and benefits, the company has invested in policies that support balance between professional and personal life, making daily work not only productive but genuinely enjoyable.
To Juan, safeguarding the wellbeing of employees and their families is a responsibility that comes before anything else. It is, in his words, a “non-negotiable commitment.” That dedication to people, he believes, is the truest measure of lasting success.
“Excellence is built as a team.”
A Future Fueled by Collaboration
The road ahead for Juniper Travel Technology is one of ambition and collective growth. With a firm position as a benchmark in B2B travel technology, the company is not content to simply hold its ground, it seeks to expand, innovate, and evolve in collaboration with others.
What excites Juan most about the future is the opportunity to join forces with other companies and partners. He sees enormous potential in combining talent, knowledge, and technology to expand Juniper’s solutions and help businesses around the world advance in their digital transformation journeys.
In this regard, and as a Constellation Software company, the acquisition and management of complementary technology companies is in Juniper’s DNA. Together with Vela Software and Juniper Group, we work daily to facilitate the union of distinctive companies for Juniper’s different verticals, adding to the portfolio of companies alongside the current DOME, IST, Lleego, Rezmagic, and Vervotech.
For Juan, the future is not about working in isolation, but about building alliances that deliver real, sustainable value to the travel industry as a whole. It is this collaborative spirit, he believes, that will carry Juniper into its next chapter of growth and innovation.
