Inma Fita’s life story is one of passion, perseverance, and a commitment to education. Born in Valencia and now residing in Mallorca, she has dedicated over 20 years to transforming the way young people and adults approach learning. Starting her career in the furniture and design industry, Inma’s personal journey led her to the world of teaching, where she has developed her own unique educational method, GUÍAME, focused on personalized and independent learning, effectively teaching people how to “learn to learn”. In this interview, she reflects on her path, values, and vision for the future of education.
Where were you born?
I was born in Valencia 60 years ago.
Where did you study?
I went to university in Valencia. Afterwards, I continued my education in Madrid, Palma and in recent years, almost always online, connected to courses that are given from different places all around the world.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I didn’t have anything very specific in mind because my interests were very varied, and I didn’t know which one to choose.
But ever since I was child, I used to like reading “self-help” books while my friends were all reading romantic novels. I had to read them secretly so as not to seem crazy.
I also liked to teach (although I wasn’t crazy about studying). I even set up a school with dolls or friends and I was the teacher.
I liked to have long conversations with my friends, chat about deep, transcendental subjects. I loved things that kept me thinking.
Another of my hobbies was decoration. I used to change the furniture in my room all the time.
Who were your parents?
My parents were two wonderful people who dedicated their lives to work and their family. I’m grateful for everything I’ve experienced with my parents and siblings. I’ve created my own family, and I try every day to be a little better with my children and my husband, thanks to my experience.
Where do you live now and why do you like this place?
I’ve lived with my husband here in Calvià, Mallorca, for 30 years.
We came for work, after having spent three years in Madrid, and we decided to choose Mallorca to start a family because of the quality of life – even though that meant giving up continuing to work in a good company with a very good salary and starting from scratch, with hardly any contacts here. But we couldn’t be happier with the decision we made.
We love Mallorca because it has everything: sea, mountains, it is very cosmopolitan, you can find almost anything. We never had the feeling of being on an island or that we’re missing out on something. We’re in love with the island.
How did you choose your profession?
I chose to be an Educational Guide because teaching was my passion.
After training for a while, I worked as an art and technical drawing teacher in secondary high school, where I came across teenagers with poor grades and little motivation towards their studies, although I could clearly see that they had great talent, intelligence, creativity, and imagination. At the same time, my son began to have academic difficulties: he’d been with dyslexia, but he was also highly talented. From that moment on, I set out to study, research, and experiment with how I could tap the potential of these young people by teaching them how to “learn to learn” in an adapted and personalized way.
Since then, more than 20 years ago, I have been interested in and trained in new styles of education, different ways of learning, multiple intelligences, personal growth, emotional intelligence, transpersonal educational coaching and special needs, among others. This has led me to envisage an alternative way of learning and to develop my own method GUÍAME (Guide Me), which revolves around people, their potential and their ability to apply different ways of learning throughout their life.
From day one, my goal has always been to help others learn and promote positive, independent and personalized learning for each student. That’s the main reason why I got involved in Disfam (Dyslexia and Family Association), where I taught Study Technique classes to teenagers and adults. I have also worked with students and teachers in public and private centers to try to change their perspectives about different ways of acquiring knowledge.
I’m really excited about doing my bit to get young people and adults motivated about learning.
Tell me a little about your career.
I got my first job when I was 16, and I juggled it with my studies. I worked as a hostess at the Valencia Furniture Fair (a world-renowned fair at the time) selling copies of the HOGARES magazine. That’s where my involvement with the furniture, decoration and interior design sector began.
I also gave painting classes to the housewives of the Cuart de Poblet Association (Valencia).
My first job after graduating in Fine Arts, specializing in drawing, was to manage the Corporate Image of AIDIMA (Technological Institute of Furniture).
During the years I lived in Madrid, I opened an AIDIMA branch there. In addition to being the visible face of the company in the capital – attending meetings at the Ministry of Industry, meeting furniture companies – I continued attending the International Furniture Fairs in Paris, Milan and Cologne every year to inform the AIDIMA partners of the latest developments.
With great regret, because they were some of the best professional years I remember, when I decided to move to Mallorca I had to leave AIDIMA. And although I remained linked to the sector, the work was more commercial, less creative.
Then, around the time of my mid-life 40s crisis and in the wake of an unexpected, very unfair dismissal that upset me enormously, I was forced to reconsider what I wanted to do with my life from then on.
And I decided to dedicate myself to another of my passions: teaching.
I trained and continue to train every day, to teach.
I am passionate about teaching as much as learning.
Currently my goal is “to create a zest in others for continuous learning”.
What was your first success?
My first professional success was: during the second year of being in AIDIMA, chartering a plane to take members to visit the Milan Furniture Fair.
At that time, the prices of flights and hotels for private trips abroad were unaffordable and I wanted them to be able to go. So, together with a travel agency in Valencia, we organized trips at affordable prices for our members. And we filled the plane and the hotel. It was incredible, I, just a 25- or 26-year -old kid who had no idea about any of that!
My first big personal success is in just being myself, in accepting myself, comparing myself with myself and with no one else, and, above all, being at peace.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of myself. “If I’m well, everything is well”
This phrase is the motto of the ‘Guiding Families Community’ that I created a year and a half ago. If you are in a good place, everything will be well. No one is responsible for our well-being.
We have to start taking responsibility for ourselves, our actions, thoughts, emotions, feelings…
What do you think about the protests against mass tourism in Mallorca?
It has less to do with tourists, and more to do with the way we have managed tourism. How have we got to this point? Did we not see it coming? Or were we not interested in preventing overtourism?
Perhaps the protests should be directed towards how tourism has been managed, not at the tourists.
And above all and most importantly, let’s all begin to build a new model that is sustainable. A model that is so good for everyone and that will set the gold standard for other tourist destinations, that we can share with everyone.
In what ways is Mallorca better than Barcelona or Madrid?
Being relatively small in size, compared to Barcelona and Madrid, we have everything, as I said before. There is still quality of life, and it is a safe place.
What professional plans do you have for this year?
This year, in addition to my own project, I am collaborating on several projects focused on improving education.
And two face-to-face groups of my ‘Guiding Families Community’ are opening in Mallorca. I feel very grateful.
What is your goal in life?
My goal is to be at peace with myself, enjoy life and to help others to discover their potential.
How do you see Mallorca in 2030? What changes would you like to see?
By 2030, Mallorca will have set the industry standard for tourism. We are learning a lot from our mistakes and by 2030, a more sustainable and beneficial model for everyone will have been implemented. We have great experts who have a lot to contribute. Let’s let them get to work.
I would like to see both tourists and residents enjoying the island. I’d like to see us all being more respectful of the environment. We have to create a climate of coexistence, promote quality services, more professional customer service, and above all, a more human and respectful way of dealing with others. We need to teach people to love themselves, and to value, appreciate and transmit that love for what is ours to tourists.
Text by Anastasia Barysheva
