This is part of Das Tor’s ongoing series, “Club Spotlight,” in which different Thunderbird clubs describe their mission, goals, and why students should consider joining their group.
I am Ana Paula Chavarry Pizzorno, an economist by trade, a Peruvian social entrepreneur, and trilingual graduate student at Thunderbird School of Global Management. I have 5 years of experience supporting the financial function of global corporations, leading economic development programs, and founding startups. After living in the U.S. for more than four years, I now call Phoenix my second home and my friends here my second family. However, there is nothing like the feeling of being at home in Peru. The rich history and ancient civilizations, the colorful culture, the diverse population, and the award-winning food all make the country a magical place. Along with the rest of Latin American countries, the vibrant business environment and growing entrepreneurial spirit are fostering an exciting new decade for the region.
Sadly, many know Latin America only as a region of political instability, inflation, and corruption. Although those factors are ever present in the politics and business world in the region, there is so much more. All my Latin American peers at Thunderbird and I share a profound sense of pride in our nationalities and cultural heritage, and it is our common desire to eventually take all the knowledge and experience we have learned abroad to go back to our countries and make a sustainable positive impact that allows for the prosperity of our communities. Regardless of our different career paths and backgrounds, it is refreshing and inspiring to see the eagerness of my Latin American peers to make an impact in their home country or the passion with which they narrate the current political situation and economic outlook of their regions and how they debate solutions to resolve the biggest problems of our societies.
It is in that spirit of promoting sustainable prosperity and pride for being Latin American that our club was born. The Latin America Business Club aims to service all its members and enrich the overall student experience by facilitating social, business, and cultural exchange between Latin America and the Thunderbird community. Our values are based on strong collaboration among club members, building a sense of community, and promoting a fun and memorable experience that will make Thunderbird the journey of a lifetime. I am the President of the club, and I believe that the importance of having a club like ours lies in the crucial role we play for students to find a place where we can share our cultural and national identities, relate with others that have the same origins, and share with the overall community our heritage and culture.
We are beyond excited about Regional Night this semester. My executive team and I will participate in numerous performances and activities showcasing our region. I will be dancing Salsa Cubana in a rueda performance, representing Peru in the Latin American Musical, and dancing Festejo alongside my other Peruvian classmates. Most importantly, I am the co-founder of Studio Artesanos, a social venture that partners with native artisans from rural communities of Peru and Ecuador to help them offer their handmade art to the US market. This Regional Night, the products of our artisans will be showcased on the fashion runway and sold at our booth.
Below are words from each of the executive team members at the Latin America Business Club.
Diana Salas Diaz, Vice President
Hello, I am Diana Salas Diaz from Lima, Peru. I am a second year student, concentrating in Global Affairs and Global Business. I came to Thunderbird to learn about global business and also to put my Latin American perspective on the table and share my colorful spirit with the whole community. Latin America is a diverse region with a huge potential. However, despite recent gains, Latin America still contains some of the least equitable countries in the world. Therefore, I am pursuing a career in the intersection between business and government. I want to use my natural skills, my multicultural nine years of work experience, and my master’s degree from Thunderbird to serve my home region in order to contribute to a more sustainable global economy. As part of my contribution to the Latin Regional Night – Fall 2021, I am creating the “Latin American Musical.” This will be a six minute show that will bring to the stage almost 22 students from different countries. In addition, I will be dancing Peruvian music with all my Peruvian classmates. In my free time, I organize multicultural events such as potlucks, volleyball games, and multicultural parties with my current Fall 2020 classmates. They have been my family since I arrived in Phoenix.
Frederico Carvalho, Finance Director
Hello, my name is Frederico Carvalho, and I am originally from Brazil. My background is in the banking industry. I decided to join Thunderbird because I related to the culture and the values of the school. Since the beginning, it has been a unique experience. After a year, I have made very good friends from around the world and learned a lot from their experience. My goal is to become an international leader and contribute to my country with my knowledge.
Rafael de Oliveira, Events Director
Hi, I’m Rafael de Oliveira. I’m a Brazilian second-year student concentrating in Global Business and Digital Transformation. I am a versatile and driven finance professional with over ten years of successful experience in the education, biotechnology, entertainment, and medical device industries. I decided to join Thunderbird because I always thought about internationalizing my career and learning about and from different cultures. Throughout my time as a T-bird, I have faced challenges that have helped me grow as both a professional and a global citizen. My mindset is developing even more, and I am grateful for the opportunity to make friends from all over the world and the learning experience that I am getting here.
Mijail Zagalo, Operations Director
Hello, I am Mijail Zegalo, a chemical engineer from Argentina with over 4 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. I decided to join Thunderbird because I considered that our objectives are truly aligned; I want to be that global leader who creates sustainable prosperity worldwide. A fun fact about me is that I used to design and build draft beer machines out of discarded tires.
Carolina Duron, Marketing Director
Hello, my name is Carolina Duron. I am a Marketing Analyst from Honduras. I have a diverse background in communications, event producing, and marketing analytics and have worked both in the US and remotely from my home country. I decided to join Thunderbird because I was looking for a global family. Throughout my professional and educational career I have built a friend group that goes from Taiwan to Paris and from Paraguay to Canada. Being a part of Thunderbird for me meant that I got to expand that network and continuously grow as a truly global business professional! Being a T-Bird means that I plan on helping LATAM businesses expand to the outside world and improve the ever growing thirst to become a fruitful and dynamic region.
We look forward to celebrating Latin America this Regional Night with you!
