Enrique Collada Sánchez is the Mayor of El Recuenco, a tiny rural village in central Spain with just 70 residents. Born into a family rooted in this remote territory, Enrique has always felt a deep sense of belonging to his father’s hometown, a place of freedom, nature, and friendship.
A telecommunications and computer engineer, Enrique is also a social entrepreneur committed to reversing rural depopulation. At the age of 26, he became one of the youngest mayors in the country. He leads El Recuenco entirely on a voluntary basis, driven solely by his commitment to securing a future for his people.
Before being elected, he founded RumboRural, a youth-led organisation that empowers young people from rural areas to become leaders of change. Today, many of its members have become mayors or councillors in their own villages.
As mayor, Enrique has transformed El Recuenco into a living laboratory of rural innovation, leading projects in sustainable forestry, bioeconomy, and reinvented social care. His work has drawn national attention, including a visit from Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister to this small village.
He also coordinates Castilla-La Mancha’s Urban and Rural Development Agendas, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Territorial Agenda 2030, shaping the next decade of policy for deeply depopulated areas.
Known in the media as “the TikTok Mayor”, Enrique has reached millions by sharing his daily work in an honest and accessible way. He was selected as a Young Civic Leader and as a Fellow of Acumen, joining a global network of social innovators.
His story proves that leadership is not about size or position, but about love, responsibility, and courage to lead where others gave up.