Paula Cardenau, 54, is a political scientist and the current Director and one of the Co-founders of Arbusta, a technology company founded in 2013 that aims to train thousands of young people and professionals from other fields in the tech industry. Through artificial intelligence, the company has grown exponentially, gained renowned clients, and expanded across Latin America.
Cardenau is one of the top executives, and her role is essential within the company. Her strength lies in her ability to connect with Arbusta’s human capital. In an interview with the company’s leadership, several employees remarked that she often listens to the staff and dedicates significant time to internal organizational development.
“I get inspired by identifying in people’s stories, as well as in my own, the decisions that allowed them to pursue their desires and enjoyment,” summarized the Arbusta executive. The company’s work model includes a personalized and intimate approach for employees, who often join with no prior experience and learn during their time within the organization.
Arbusta’s Business Model
Arbusta promotes a distinct business model centered on intensive training for young professionals from diverse backgrounds who acquire experience during their stay at the company. In an interview, Cardenau revealed that 60% of Arbusta’s employees are women, noting that “for women, there tend to be fewer job opportunities in the technology sector.” She emphasized that fewer women graduate from tech-related degrees.
Once technological training is completed, Arbusta’s corporate framework provides a professional work experience. Employees leave equipped with new tools and knowledge expected to be applied in the future. Cardenau stressed that above technical abilities, “trust in the workplace” is what matters most.
“A junior brings energy, curiosity, and a desire to learn. If a leader invests time in their development, it not only helps the person but also builds teams that are more adaptable and aligned with their vision,” highlighted Cardenau, consistent with Arbusta’s philosophy.
Cardenau frequently uses the term “skills,” not as a mark of distinction, but to emphasize non-technical abilities such as “communication” or “critical thinking” as means to express and understand the digital environment. She highly values each person’s journey and story, seeing them as ways to forge one’s own path.
How Cardenau Co-founded Arbusta
Paula holds a degree in Political Science and International Relations. She worked at Argentina’s Ministry of Social Development years ago, where she learned to “observe” and understand the strengths of different organizations. Later, she joined Ashoka, a company that supports and empowers social entrepreneurs.
Her career path is unsurprising given her long-term dedication to sectors with strong social impact, helping professionals grow in their fields. After 13 years at Ashoka, she became the Director for Latin America — a major milestone in her career.
True to her principles and driven by the desire to transform systems, her next step after leaving Ashoka was personal. She felt the need to create something of her own. She first did so with Njambre, a company focused on supporting entrepreneurs — closely related to her current work at Arbusta.
Arbusta provides technology services to companies such as Mercado Libre, Despegar, and PedidosYa, with offices in Argentina and Colombia, and aims to become a regional leader in data management. Artificial intelligence has become central to data analysis, allowing for more controlled and efficient decision-making processes.
Data Management and the Human Factor
Data management, process outsourcing, and quality control are the three core pillars of Arbusta’s operations. “We offer an efficient economic model,” stated the company co-founded by Paula Cardenau.
With the rise of artificial intelligence, Arbusta has positioned itself as a reliable leader in data management and decision support. At the same time, Paula Cardenau continues to mentor professionals, promoting a workplace culture based on personal growth and communication.
She emphasized the value of non-technical “soft skills” as key differentiators in individual performance. Personal stories and experiences, she believes, shape professionals into meaningful contributors to their environments. Cardenau’s trajectory — from Ashoka to Njambre and now Arbusta — reflects a path forged with purpose, coherence, and her own vision of collective development.
