My CV and LinkedIn explain what I have done up until now but not my why. I want to take this opportunity to share my American Dream and how I ended up being the professional I am today and where I look to move forward in the future.
Beginnings
Born in New jersey to immigrant parents from Colombia, my upbringing was beyond ordinary. From an early age I saw first hand the financial and social hardships faced by my parents in a new country. Add to that the language difficulty and the fact my parents did not go to school, I was already responsible for helping them when it came to financial documentation, new technologies, and English. Little did I know that these experiences would shape my purpose, passion, and perseverance moving forward.
I decided to invest in myself by going to school, an opportunity neither of my parents had. I worked part time jobs to help pay for my schooling and decided to pursue legal studies in order to help people like my parents. My studies led me to complete my Bachelors in Political Science and gave me my first international experience studying law at the University of Cambridge for a summer exchange.
Finding Purpose
After graduation, I would embark on my first professional experience with a multinational team at one of the biggest law firms in New York City claiming financial compensation for victims of the September 11th attacks. In working with clients, I realized my negotiation skills, bilingual capabilities, and ability to win over new clients were crucial in securing them the most compensation possible. But what stood out to me the most was the sense of purpose I felt each day delivering a service to those who needed it the most. I would carry this purpose with me once I decided to pursue my passion.
Pursuing Passion
Pursuing Passion
I decided I wanted to solve the financial challenges faced by by the most vulnerable on an international level. During my Masters in International Relations in Barcelona, my passion promoting entrepreneurship as a way to tackle global problems was born. From pitching an app that provided services to immigrants at the European Parliament to a policy report facilitating entrepreneurship for immigrants in Barcelona, I believed deeply that entrepreneurship could help solve pressing problems in the world.
Perseverance
After my masters I came back to New York right before the COVID-19 pandemic, where my career in the start up and fintech industry would take off. I persevered and was fortunate to work on a pilot project compensating domestic workers using mobile app technology and debit card products, a financial app providing flexible rental plans, and finally a fintech company providing mobile banking for low income Americans. I saw how companies provided financial solutions to customers through innovative means, something that has inspired me up to this day.
Today
After 4 years working in the fintech industry, I decided to expand my business knowledge and enroll in the Executive MBA program at IESE Business School in Madrid. Here, I continue pursuing my passion in entrepreneurship as co founder and president of the first IESE Executive MBA Entrepreneurship Club. I am currently building upon my experience with practical business cases, building a strong Spanish and European network, as well as pursuing my own entrepreneurial endeavors. In addition, I have launched my own newsletter, The Aspira Guide, which looks to inspire, promote, and inform tech start ups in Spain.
