[7] González Laya began her career in the private sector as an associate at German law firm Bruckhaus Westrick Stegemann in Brussels, advising companies on trade, competition and state aid matters.

During her tenure as Executive Director of the International Trade Centre, González Laya spearheaded global efforts to empower women economically.

[10][11][12] In May 2020, some media echoed rumors implying González Laya would be the favorite to lead the World Trade Organization (WTO) following the announcement that the Director-General, Roberto Azevêdo, would resign in August 2020;[13] by July, she ruled out any candidacy for the role.

[14] In December 2020, González Laya said that Spain welcomed the normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel, but reminded that the issue of Western Sahara remained to be settled within the United Nations.

[15] On 31 December 2020, González Laya reached an agreement in principle with the United Kingdom regarding Gibraltar, amid the end of the Brexit transition period.

[18] In September 2021, European Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni appointed González Laya as chair of the Wise Persons Group on Challenges Facing the Customs Union.