El Confidencial Highlights Pilar Alfonso on Non-Technical Careers in Big Tech

Spanish publication El Confidencial featured Pilar Alfonso, founder of Gogotechy and former Google, Meta and TikTok leader, in its Economía para Gen Z podcast to discuss one of the biggest misconceptions about working in technology companies.

Many students believe that entering companies like Google requires a highly technical background. According to Pilar, the reality is very different.

“I speak with many students whose first thought is: ‘I won’t apply because this is too technical and I’m not a technical person.’ The truth is that around 60% of roles at companies like Google, Meta, and TikTok are much more related to business than product development.”

Business Roles Driving Big Tech

Beyond engineering teams, large technology companies rely on a wide range of business roles, including:

• Sales and partnerships

• Marketing and growth

• Strategy and operations

• Product marketing

• Customer success

These positions play a critical role in scaling products, driving revenue, and building relationships with global clients.

A Changing Talent Landscape

The conversation also explores how the expectations of the job market are evolving. While universities provide strong theoretical foundations, companies increasingly value practical experience, adaptability, and real-world problem solving.

For many candidates, the key to entering Big Tech is not choosing the “perfect” degree, but building relevant skills, positioning themselves strategically, and demonstrating impact.

You can read the full article or listen to the episode from El Confidencial’s Economía para Gen Z podcast here: