After 15 years at Tecpetrol, María Laura Solbiati, Labor Relations Expert, looks back on a career shaped by internal moves, changing priorities and the value of learning from different generations.

María Laura Solbiati had always been good with numbers, so studying accounting felt like a natural choice. She left her native Salta for Córdoba, where she graduated and became a mother. Ten years later, she returned home and joined Tecpetrol in 2010, beginning a career that would draw on everything she had learned along the way. But numbers were never the whole story. She also enjoyed negotiating, finding common ground and building trust. Once she made that interest known, Human Resources kept it in mind. When an opportunity came up in Neuquén, she was offered the chance to take on a completely new role in Labor Relations.

You decided to change sectors and provinces while working as an Administration and Finance Manager in Salta. How did that shift come about?

The first step actually came earlier, and under fairly difficult circumstances. While I was in Tartagal, a colleague in Human Resources had health problems and decided to continue her treatment in Buenos Aires, where she was from. Her responsibilities were shared across several teams, and because people already knew I was interested in that kind of work, they asked me to take on some of them. It was a real challenge. I was taking on extra responsibilities at a complicated time, but I was able to make it work thanks to the support of my team. That experience gave me the confidence to take the next step. So when a Labor Relations position opened up in Neuquén, the company offered it to me and I was very happy to take it.

Work culture, leadership, and quality of life

From the time you started until today, what changes have you seen in terms of diversity?

I really value the +d program because I think it’s made a real difference to how we work. There’s still a long way to go, of course, but sometimes I look back and can’t believe how much has changed in 15 years. I notice it most in the way people relate to one another. There’s much more respect. Younger generations have also brought a different outlook, and we have a lot to learn from them. One thing they’ve shown us, for example, is that you can be fully committed to your goals and still respect your own time and boundaries.

What do you consider to be the biggest achievement of your career?

In 2024, we acquired Pluspetrol’s stake in the Ramos field in Salta. It involved a huge amount of coordination across different areas, including teams in Buenos Aires. However, we managed to reach some agreements which were anything but straightforward as there were so many different parties involved.

Can you think of any mistakes that taught you something important?

A lot of what I’m good at today came from mistakes I made along the way, especially when it comes to listening. I used to be much more impulsive, and over time I learned to give other people more room. When people are genuinely involved in a decision, the agreements you reach tend to hold up much better over time. And when everyone has the chance to contribute, the end result is usually much richer. I learned that through both successes and setbacks. Sometimes the best thing you can do is stop, listen, think things through and then move forward.

Why do you still choose Tecpetrol after 15 years?

After 15 years, I finally feel at home (laughs). I genuinely enjoy my work, I’m still learning, and I’ve been able to take on opportunities that have taken me in directions I never expected. There are also the everyday things—the conversations in the office, the people you work with, those small moments that make you feel comfortable and part of something. And I’ve also found a better balance. I can make time for exercise, meditation and, soon, getting back to my theater classes.