How did the coursework and research you did while a student at UCLA prepare you for an international career?
UCLA helped me significantly in preparing me for exploring international environments. The dilemmas explored and debated were not limited by local boundaries, and broader perspectives and geographies were always relevant. The access to different people and cultures, through professors and students, was also essential in appreciating the beauty of cultural diversity. The fact that the course was challenging, but definitely worthwhile, was also a preparation for international life.
Can you speak a little bit about your career and how it has progressed since graduating from UCLA?
When I graduated, I felt prepared and challenged to take on bigger steps. I had always run businesses partially, and always within a single country, but started to want to manage an entire business, and across multiple countries. After a few years of graduation and a lot of hard work, I reached this position. Today, I am responsible for an entire P&L and an entire region. It was not easy or given, but certainly the perspective I received through UCLA contributed significantly to this.
What would you say to a UCLA student who is planning on having an international career?
I would say that if your professional and personal profile shows an interest in learning and developing in different cultures, people, and business environments, the international scenario is the right opportunity. Many times this discovery is not easy, but it is certainly challenging, enriching, and totally worthwhile.