Helena Resano is poised to introduce a fresh professional venture that moves beyond her current news duties. She will lead a pioneering Etb talent competition, titled 12 Leaders, as part of a bold new entertainment strategy presented this week in Vitoria-Gasteiz during the FesTVal edition. The project signals a deliberate expansion of Resano’s portfolio, embracing a blend of reality competition and journalistic oversight that could redefine her role in the Spanish television landscape.
The program will air weekly in prime time on Basque state television, marking a significant collaboration across networks. Importantly, this move does not signal Resano’s exit from laSexta. Instead, she will oversee the new production and concurrently continue contributing to the first edition of news on the Atresmedia Televisión network, maintaining her strong presence across flagship programs.
With this announcement, Resano is taking a major step in a long television career that spans more than 17 years. A graduate of the University of Navarra in Audio-Visual Communications, she has contributed to information services for Cadena SER, Telecinco, TVE and laSexta, demonstrating versatility across newsrooms and formats. The new project will become a centerpiece of her creative evolution, reflecting a willingness to experiment while preserving journalistic integrity and audience trust.
What the show 12 Leaders Has to Offer
In 12 Leaders, twelve contestants will undergo a series of challenges designed to test five core capacities: empathy, leadership, charisma, power, and communication skills. But it goes beyond mere performance. The format invites viewers to weigh in, adding a participatory dimension that puts audience judgment at the heart of the competition’s progression. The show will blend competitive tasks with real-time feedback, revealing how leaders respond under pressure and navigate complex scenarios.
Beyond Resano’s role as host, the program will feature three professional trainers who will serve as coaches and jurors. These experts will guide the participants, assess their performance, and contribute to the scoring process, ensuring a fair and informed evaluation of each leader’s journey. The dynamic is built to captivate viewers who enjoy seeing growth, strategy, and authentic leadership unfold on screen.
As the project unfolds, industry observers will watch how the show integrates journalistic perspective with entertainment, potentially shaping new standards for how talent competitions are produced and perceived. The collaboration across Basque and national networks signals a broader trend toward cross-regional broadcasting that leverages regional audiences while appealing to a wider national footprint. This approach aligns with ongoing conversations about how traditional news figures adapt to evolving formats without losing credibility. (Source: FesTVal briefing and network announcements)