From global tech giants to leading digital transformation at TGS, the journey of María Victoria Arrastúa, CTO & Digital Transformation Head, TGS, is defined by a clear conviction – technology only delivers its full potential when people are at the center.
Across roles at Oracle, Accenture, GE, Pfizer and Ericsson, she built a leadership philosophy rooted in trust, collaboration, and purpose-driven change. Now, as she drives TGS’s evolution in Argentina’s Oil & Gas sector, she shares her insights on data, innovation, resilience, and the responsibility to open doors for the next generation.
From Global Teams to Transformational Leadership
María Victoria’s passion for technology and leadership was forged in fast-moving global companies – Oracle, Accenture, GE, Pfizer and Ericsson- where she saw firsthand how technology enables growth and efficiency. She met each challenge with enthusiasm, deepening her commitment to tech and shaping her leadership style.
Working across LatAm and worldwide built her strategic lens and adaptive skills. “From the beginning, I approached each of these experiences with genuine enthusiasm and a positive mindset, which strengthened my passion for technology and shaped the way I lead and embrace new challenges,” she recalls.
She found global exposure to multicultural teams essential. “These experiences strengthened my passion for technology and leading diverse teams, managing change, and aligning technological innovation with business objectives.” Early executive roles helped her understand technology’s impact on strategy and consolidated her passion for driving digital transformation and leading organizations toward more agile and innovative models.
The Appointment That Changed Everything
For María Victoria, joining Ericsson’s global IT Management team at Stockholm headquarters was a defining moment. It allowed her to define the technological direction for an entire region, lead large-scale initiatives, and manage relationships with international stakeholders in a highly demanding and multicultural environment. “I approached each of these experiences with genuine enthusiasm and positive mindset, which strengthened my passion for technology and shape the way I lead and embrace new challenges,” she recalls.
Corporate-level decision-making and cross-geography collaboration taught her to align strategy, technology, and culture. It cemented her leadership and revealed that transformation is about changing how people work, not just implementing tech. “My career has been driven by that purpose – building bridges between technological innovation and sustainable business growth,” she emphasizes.
Balancing High-Stakes Roles with What Matters Most
Taking on demanding global roles required María Victoria to manage balance consciously and adaptively – not as a rigid separation, but a dynamic integration that shifts with each life stage. Her family has been a fundamental pillar. “Thanks to their constant support, I was able to develop my professional career while also building and maintaining a strong personal foundation. Their support was key in helping me take on international challenges, lead diverse teams, and hold executive positions without losing sight of what truly matters,” she says.
For María Victoria, leadership means leading by example – fostering environments where well-being and personal development are part of the agenda. “When there’s genuine balance, people can reach their full potential both professionally and personally,” she insists. “I see this journey as a shared construction that allowed me to grow and gave purpose and meaning to every challenge I undertook.”
Transformation Succeeds When People Lead It
María Victoria’s leadership philosophy rests on the deep conviction that transformations are driven by people, not organizations. Technology and processes are enablers, but real change happens when teams feel like protagonists. Her approach builds trust, purpose, and empowerment – where everyone can contribute, experiment, and evolve. “I believe leadership is not about imposing direction, but about inspiring a shared vision and supporting teams along the journey to achieve it,” she reflects.
Leading digital and cultural transformations taught her that success depends on mobilizing people, listening to their perspectives, and building a culture where change becomes natural. She sees her role as enabling, connecting, and empowering teams to perform at their best. “I also believe that passion and a positive attitude are essential to sustain transformation over time. Energy is contagious, and as a leader, bringing that mindset into the organization helps teams stay engaged, overcome challenges, and move forward with confidence,” she observes.
Leading Change at the Intersection of Vision, Tech, & People
What excites María Victoria most about leading digital transformation at TGS is being part of a truly unique moment. Operating in Argentina’s dynamic Oil & Gas sector, TGS plays a leading role in a transformation that impacts both the company and the country’s development.
“We’re going through a period of unprecedented global changes, driven by the rise of AI and new digital technologies. This is redefining how organizations operate, make decisions, and generate value. Being part of this process represents an extraordinary opportunity to rethink the role of technology and its strategic impact,” she explains.
A critical enabler is strong sponsorship from the CEO and steering committee, whose forward-looking vision sets the direction. “His commitment to innovation and continuous evolution creates the conditions to accelerate change, while empowering teams to take ownership, challenge the status quo, and confidently drive the digital transformation agenda. My role is to translate that vision into action, leading the transformation while supporting the organization through this evolution,” she says.
María Victoria is motivated by the opportunity to build a more agile, innovative, and future-ready organization. “I approach this challenge with great passion and a positive outlook, convinced that even the most complex situations can become opportunities when teams are aligned, committed, and inspired,” she declares. “Leading this transformation at TGS means being at the intersection of vision, technology, and people – driving together the change needed to tackle the challenges of a new era.”
Bold Ideas Grow Where People Feel Safe
María Victoria believes fostering creativity starts with people – the best ideas emerge when individuals feel heard, valued, and safe to experiment without fear of failure. She prioritizes trust and collaborative spaces that bring together diverse profiles, experiences, and expertise, making bold thinking a natural part of daily work.
“When different perspectives – business, technology, data, and operations – come together, true synergies are created, and innovative ideas emerge that would not arise in more homogeneous environments,” she explains. “Creativity does not happen by chance. It requires an environment that enables, empowers, and sustains it over time. My role is to create that space by connecting people, breaking down silos, and facilitating conversations that inspire new ways of thinking. When people feel empowered and work together, bold ideas cease to be exceptions and become reality.”
Data as the True Driver of Transformation
One of María Victoria’s achievements that best reflects her vision and leadership at TGS is initiating and consolidating the path to position data as the company’s most important asset. Understanding that true digital transformation requires more than technology – it requires transforming how the organization makes decisions – she drove a clear vision of becoming a data-driven company, supporting every decision with reliable, timely, and high-quality information.
This enables more efficient and strategic management while laying the foundation for the future. In a context where AI is reshaping the rules, having solid, governed, and secure data is essential. Her work has focused on building that foundation – a data-driven organization upon which advanced analytics and AI capabilities can be responsibly developed. “Beyond technological progress, the most valuable achievement has been embedding a new way of thinking – where data is not just a support function, but a true driver of transformation,” she emphasizes.
Transformation Demands Collective Strength & Resilience
One of María Victoria’s most demanding challenges came during her time at Ericsson, when the company decided to globally outsource its entire technology function – migrating operations to India and redefining structures, models, and responsibilities at a regional level. The complexity brought technical risks to operational continuity and significant organizational uncertainty.
Ensuring stability while executing such large-scale change required precision, coordination, and strong leadership. What made the difference was the strong collaboration within the global management team. Aligned around a common goal, they built a shared vision to move forward with focus. The multicultural nature of the team integrated diverse perspectives and problem-solving approaches, greatly enriching decision-making.
This experience taught María Victoria that major challenges are overcome collectively – through trust, resilience, openness to learning, and steady focus even in uncertainty. “Throughout that experience, maintaining a positive and forward-looking mindset was critical. It allowed us to navigate uncertainty and turn challenges into opportunities for learning, growth, and stronger collaboration,” she recalls.
María Victoria believes her most relevant challenge is the one she is leading today at TGS – driving digital transformation in the Oil & Gas industry, an essential, high-impact, and rapidly expanding sector. “It’s a challenge that goes beyond technology – inspiring big change, mobilizing people, and building a shared vision that prepares TGS for the future. Being part of this process represents a unique opportunity to leave a meaningful footprint and create a lasting, meaningful impact,” she remarks.
Global Insights, Local Impact, Forward Strategy
María Victoria sees international trends and global partnerships as key inputs for defining strategy in a fast-changing world, where AI-driven disruption is transforming organizational capabilities and the speed at which companies must adapt. AI redefines flexibility, compelling organizations to continuously evolve, rethink operating models, and adopt a more agile, change-oriented, global mindset.
International best practices and emerging trends help anticipate change, make better-informed decisions, and avoid well-trodden paths. Global partnerships enrich this vision by connecting organizations with different ecosystems, integrating capabilities, and leveraging diverse experiences. Working with international partners accelerates innovation, broadens the strategic horizon, and builds more robust solutions aligned with global standards.
“My approach is to combine this global perspective with local reality – leveraging the best of international trends and adapting them to the organization’s context. In a world driven by AI and constant change, the ability to learn, connect, and evolve is what truly makes the difference,” she explains.
Purpose-Driven Tech That Improves People’s Lives
For María Victoria, ensuring technology generates positive social impact begins with the purpose behind its design. “I believe innovation should not be measured solely by efficiency or business results, but also by its ability to improve people’s lives, both within and beyond the organization,” she insists. Her approach is to think about technology responsibly and sustainably, integrating security, ethical data usage, and transparency in decision-making.
With AI playing an increasingly prominent role, building on reliable, governed, and protected data is essential to ensure safe and appropriate use. Fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture is also critical – technology initiatives must consider diverse perspectives and needs, ensuring benefits reach the entire organization through training, adoption support, and opportunities for everyone to participate.
“True impact is achieved when technology is connected to a broader purpose – contributing to sustainable development, improving resource efficiency, and strengthening the role of organizations in society. That’s where digital transformation transcends technology and becomes a true driver of positive change,” María Victoria insists.
Leading by Example to Open Doors for Women
María Victoria’s career gave her the opportunity and challenge of opening new paths in executive leadership from an early stage, in environments where female representation was not always the norm. This experience deeply shaped her purpose and leadership style.
“I believe my greatest contribution to future generations is demonstrating, through actions, that it’s possible – that women can lead, make strategic decisions, and hold positions of influence while remaining authentic, true to their values, and bringing a people-centered perspective,” she reflects. “I also strongly believe in the power of leading by example. Every step we take in leadership roles helps expand and strengthen the path for those who come next.”
María Victoria advises young professionals to invest in more than just technical knowledge and develop human skills. “Technology evolves constantly, but people drive real change. The kind of leadership needed today is agile, grounded in flexibility, empathy, and the ability to adapt to dynamic environments. Learn how to listen, understand different perspectives, and build through collaboration. Transformations are not imposed – they’re built together with teams,” she observes.
She also recommends being open to continuous learning and challenging the status quo. “In an environment defined by constant innovation, leadership requires the courage to explore, to fail, and to try again, while creating spaces where others feel safe to do the same. Strengthen your technical skills, but never lose sight of what truly matters. True impact comes from those who understand that transformation goes far beyond technology – it’s about inspiring, mobilizing, and putting people at the center of every change,” she adds.
Conclusion
María Victoria Arrastúa hopes to leave a legacy of opening new paths, setting clear direction, and contributing to organizational evolution through technology and a more empathetic, collaborative, and conscious way of leading. As someone who drove meaningful change, transformed with passion and a positive mindset, challenged the status quo, and built new ways of working where innovation and people coexist naturally, she wants to be remembered as a leader who created the conditions for others to grow, take risks, and leave their own mark. She believes true legacy is measured by impact on people and culture – inspiring, creating opportunities, and opening paths for others to continue and improve.
