Although the parents of Elisabeth Op de Beeck(42) are from Antwerp, Belgium, she was born right here in Andalucia, in Málaga, and raised in Marbella. Elisbeth specializes in marketing and sponsorship and now started her own company called S4S. i-Marbella decided to find out more about this intriguing and smart businesswoman.

1. Where were you educated? 

I lived in Antwerp for two years when I was 6, after that went to the L'Ecole Francaise de Málaga, then to Colegio San José in Estepona and one year as an exchange student in the US to learn English. After that studied in Madrid Marketing and Publicity.

2. When and how did you begin your career? 

I started as a Marlboro hostess (very young then! Only 18!) to earn some extra pocket money while I was studying, after that I worked for DORNA SPORTS, the right holders of the MotoGP. I organized for 10 years the VIP Village Corporate Hospitality area for the Motorcycle Championship around the world, at that time we had 16 Grand Prix, from 10 Grand Prix in Europe to Malaysia, Indonesia, Japán, Autralia, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil …..after that lived 5 years in México City and worked as Marketing Director of an import/export company. Upon my return to Marbella I worked with Op de Beeck & Worth, with Mario Guarnieri,  collaborated in some Sport Events in Puente Romano, Polo in Sotogrande, Volvo Masters etc.

3. When did you decide to make your own company?

I have a daughter so the traveling is not compatible at least when they are still small, so I never lost contact with all my friends, clients, suppliers from the Sport World and always kept involved in small events, or encounters. I little by little found out what I liked, so decided to create S4S Search 4 Sponsors. At the beginning I had to combine it with other jobs but now finally I can dedicate myself 100% to S4S. 

4. What does you company do exactly?

S4S Searches for Sponsors & sells VIP Tickets for Sport Events mainly. Most of the events that S4S works with are not local, we collaborate with FIFA Beach Soccer Worldwide, with Moto GP, with Octagon for the Open de Valencia, collaborate with the Union Deportiva de Marbella to look for partners and sponsors. The only event in which I am involved in and is not a sport event is the Marbella Luxury Weekend, an initiative of the Town Hall of Marbella and I have the privilege of organizing this Third Edition and at the same time I am also taking care of all the Sponsorship side of the event.

5. How long does the whole process take to create a big event like a tennis tournament or a luxury weekend?

All events are different but for example we started working for the Marbella Luxury Weekend in November 2012. The last two months of the year are when most of big companies decide their Marketing Budget so I was in December in Madrid knocking on doors and presenting the Marbella Luxury Weekend and since then we are still working and have one month still to go. It will be great!

6. What skills do you need in your position/job?

The main thing you need is to love your job, after that be prepared for some stress and difficult situations but that is not so difficult when you have one of the most important things in a job like this, the ability to create a positive and cheerful ambience and you can only do that with a great team, and I think  we do have this at the Marbella Luxury Weekend, that makes those stressful moments not so hard. :-)

7. What do you consider to be your biggest accomplishment so far?

I am not finished yet, every day that goes by is a big accomplishment professionally speaking but I have to say that starting with S4S is already a big step and now looking forward to making it grow. Personally speaking my biggest pride and accomplishment is my daughter, how she puts up with such a workaholic mother!!! , but she is understanding that to get what you want you have to fight for it, so I hope I am giving her a good example.  

8. What are your dreams and goals?

My dream and goal is to still love my job many more years!!!

9. How do you spend your free time in Marbella?

I am taxi driver for my daughter and apart from that my free time is to play tennis, paddle, spinning, go to the beach, study Russia, go dancing with my friends and work, work, work. :-)

10. What are your plans for the summer?

This summer I am going to Siberia to improve my Russian and after that to Moscow to work with the Euro Beach Soccer League which will take place the first weekend of August.