Our Team

At PaellaFest, we’re driven by a team of passionate individuals with diverse expertise. Their collective mission is to celebrate the vibrant traditions and innovative flavors of Spanish cuisine.

WHO WE ARE

Jose Alberto Sanchis

FOUNDER | CEO

Originally from Valencia, Spain, Jose Alberto Sanchis is an executive and entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience launching successful global business ventures and nonprofit organizations. Based in Washington D.C. his professional and personal mission has been to make the world a better place. He has advised governments and corporations on a variety of issues including financial and organizational structuring. He also advises Spanish companies on establishing their businesses in the United States. PaellaFest was born from his passion for celebrating authenticity in Spanish cuisine and keeping the culinary traditions alive.

Sanchis has a Law degree from the University of Navarra, Spain, graduate degrees from IESE Business School in Barcelona and IPADE Business School in Mexico, an MBA from the University of Miami, and a Master´s in Mobility Studies from the Polytechnic University of Madrid. He also holds a Certificate in New Technologies from UNED in Spain and a Degree in Methodology and Didactics from the University of Valencia. He has an LNV Executive Education program at the Harvard Business School.

Pablo Sanchis

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Pablos Sanchis is an Emmy-nominated producer originally from Valencia, Spain, and is a Master’s graduate in Communication from American University, Washington D.C. He has worked on shows like HBO’s The Sopranos and later joined Univision’s digital entertainment unit, where he was nominated for his work on the documentary Karol G: “La Guerrera del Género.” He is the owner and president of Stiltsville Media, a Miami-based production company focusing on creating original content that engages with audiences advocating for diversity and inclusion in the media industry.

Leila Antakly

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

Graduate from Bocconi and American University in Washington D.C. Leila has 15 years of Communications and Marketing experience in different industries. She has produced several films and is involved in the nonprofit space. Previously she was a director at Wilhelmina, in Dubai. Leila is passionate about Spanish culture and its fantastic cuisine. She brings international experience having lived and worked abroad including the past several years in Madrid. She is also the Founder and Editor of Ninu Nina, a creative platform featuring interviews with artists from all over the world.