MADRID, Spain.- Cuban Karla Fernández, international chess master, has found in GaliciaSpain, her new home and a prosperous path as an entrepreneur. Since her arrival in 2022, she has managed to combine her passion for chess with her desire to research the benefits of this sport for people with ADHD, while building a solid career as a freelance teacher.
Dedicated to chess Since she was 8 years old and with a competitive career at an international level, Karla, who is now 25 years old, decided to change her life and move to Spain to continue her academic training.
It is worth remembering that in 2017 he represented Cuba in the World Youth Chess Championship, in the city of Tarvisio, Italy. On the Island he was also a gold medalist in national under 12, under 14 and under 18 championships.
As he relates in conversation with The voice of Galiciacame to the European country to pursue a master’s degree focused on researching the benefits of chess for people with ADHD. Currently, he is pursuing a doctorate in the same subject.
At first, the idea of working on her own was unfamiliar to her, since in Cuba she worked for someone else, that is, for the State, but the support of her environment and a change in Spanish legislation encouraged her to embark on this new path.
In Galicia, she found a team of colleagues at the Alexandre Bóveda Club who encouraged her to take the leap into the world of entrepreneurship. With them, she has participated in the Galician chess league of honour, being the only woman with the title of international master.
“I realised that it was easier to set up my own business than to look for a job. So I started taking part in tournaments, putting up posters around the city and I managed to get a room at the Círculo de Artesanos,” he says about his beginnings.
Thanks to her talent, her charisma and word of mouth, Karla has managed to consolidate her business in a short time. Currently, she has numerous students, who started out as just eight, and her schedule is full of classes and tournaments.
“The best thing is that I can organize my schedule and choose the methodology I want to follow with my students. I wouldn’t like to be told what to teach my students… I don’t see myself having a boss,” she explains about the benefits of having her own business.
However, she also admits that there is the uncertainty of “not knowing how much you will earn at the end of the month,” which “is a constant challenge, especially in the summer.” However, the satisfaction of being able to organize her own time and choose her teaching methodology outweighs any inconvenience.
“I have no idea how to sell or promote anything,” he admits, “but I believe,” he adds, “that for things to work out well, you have to believe in what you do.”
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