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Marbella
4th August 2006, 05:15 PM
Do you agree with this list - I was looking for modern day success stories outside of the sports, arts and entertainment world [ref my other post (http://www.notesfromspain.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5661#post5661)]. I've tried to take one each across the categories suggested by other foreros.

1. Javier Solana: former secretary general of NATO and now the same but of the European Union. Hugely influencial and seen very recently getting involved in the new middle-eastern conflict.

2. Amancio Ortega: from the Zara clothing store chain. Started with a small business in Galicia where he used local female workers to cut and put the clothes together. When Zara started to grow there was not a main factory but lots of small workshops all around Galicia with 10 to 15 women each.

3. Santiago Calatrava: Architect who has created some spectacular buildings all over the world including North America.

4. Ferran Adriá: often voted the world's greatest chef and owner of the splendid 3 Michelin star El Bulli restaurant in Catalunya.

5. Rodrigo Rato: Madrileño and director of the powerful International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Ben
5th August 2006, 10:59 AM
Agree, though I find Rato a strange one as I find it hard to imagine anyone has heard of him outside Spain. Great list though.

Victor
5th August 2006, 12:00 PM
You could also add Federico Mayor to that list (Director-General of UNESCO from 1987 to 1999)

ogando
7th August 2006, 04:28 PM
Manolo Blahnik
Famous Spanish shoe designer originally from the Canary Islands.
Opened his first store, Zapata, in London in 1973.
Mentioned weekly by
Sarah Jessica Parker on her HBO series, Sex and the City.
Madonna said his shoes were "better than sex".
He received honorary doctorates from both the Royal London College of Art and the Royal Society of Arts of Britain.