Alumni Spotlights
Hugo Saavedra ’04
Hugo Saavedra ’04
Major: Business Administration Marketing
What have been the highlights of your life and career?
I received my Global MBA degree from Thunderbird University in May 2009. This was an incredible personal accomplishment since graduating from Elmira College. However, it was not easy to study while working full-time. The structure of the program allowed me to take classes online as well as attend courses on-campus and in international locations. During the 22-month program I had to manage my time to review class materials, work on projects with T-Bird students located across the world, and progress my career at Unilever at the same time. Term IV was the toughest since I had to manage a job transfer from Minneapolis to New York. Classes were tough, the real estate market was brutal, and a new job is always a challenge. This experience gave me the confidence that everything is possible when you put your heart and soul towards your goals.
Have you done any traveling after college?
Traveling has been a great way to enjoy life after college! My most recent trip has been to Thailand. Spending 15 days in Thailand allowed me to experience several parts of the country. I enjoyed the beaches of Koi Samui, Ko Phangan, Phuket, as well as several other islands in the region. I also headed to the northern region in Chiang Mai and Pai to take several fun treks like riding elephants, playing with cub tigers, and visiting a long-neck tribe. Those days in Thailand were just incredible! I’m sure that those who have been in Thailand would agree with me that you should definitely go visit one day.
What are your fondest memories of your days at Elmira College?
My fondest memories at Elmira were the preparation days prior to our SIFE competitions. We would meet for hours to get our script written, slides and videos edited, and presentation rehearsed. Even though we were under pressure to get everything done, we were always able to laugh and enjoy that experience.
Were you involved in any clubs, organizations, teams, or activities at EC?
I was an Orientation Leader and was a member of the Varsity Men’s Soccer team, SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise), the Gold Key Society, and the Alternative Housing Dorm Council.
What advice would you give students about preparing for graduate school or careers?
My advice to those students preparing to enter the job market is to take advantage of every opportunity to get experience. In today’s economy, not everyone will be able to get an internship in their field before graduating. However, you should know that recruiters are extremely interested on how you reached results rather than the activity itself. Every experience counts when you write your resume or go through an interview. Just make sure to highlight how you stamped your fingerprint on the outcome of an activity.
Do you have a favorite quote that embodies your beliefs or values?
“Treat others the same way that you like to be treated”
Major: Business Administration Marketing
What have been the highlights of your life and career?
I received my Global MBA degree from Thunderbird University in May 2009. This was an incredible personal accomplishment since graduating from Elmira College. However, it was not easy to study while working full-time. The structure of the program allowed me to take classes online as well as attend courses on-campus and in international locations. During the 22-month program I had to manage my time to review class materials, work on projects with T-Bird students located across the world, and progress my career at Unilever at the same time. Term IV was the toughest since I had to manage a job transfer from Minneapolis to New York. Classes were tough, the real estate market was brutal, and a new job is always a challenge. This experience gave me the confidence that everything is possible when you put your heart and soul towards your goals.
Have you done any traveling after college?
Traveling has been a great way to enjoy life after college! My most recent trip has been to Thailand. Spending 15 days in Thailand allowed me to experience several parts of the country. I enjoyed the beaches of Koi Samui, Ko Phangan, Phuket, as well as several other islands in the region. I also headed to the northern region in Chiang Mai and Pai to take several fun treks like riding elephants, playing with cub tigers, and visiting a long-neck tribe. Those days in Thailand were just incredible! I’m sure that those who have been in Thailand would agree with me that you should definitely go visit one day.
What are your fondest memories of your days at Elmira College?
My fondest memories at Elmira were the preparation days prior to our SIFE competitions. We would meet for hours to get our script written, slides and videos edited, and presentation rehearsed. Even though we were under pressure to get everything done, we were always able to laugh and enjoy that experience.
Were you involved in any clubs, organizations, teams, or activities at EC?
I was an Orientation Leader and was a member of the Varsity Men’s Soccer team, SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise), the Gold Key Society, and the Alternative Housing Dorm Council.
What advice would you give students about preparing for graduate school or careers?
My advice to those students preparing to enter the job market is to take advantage of every opportunity to get experience. In today’s economy, not everyone will be able to get an internship in their field before graduating. However, you should know that recruiters are extremely interested on how you reached results rather than the activity itself. Every experience counts when you write your resume or go through an interview. Just make sure to highlight how you stamped your fingerprint on the outcome of an activity.
Do you have a favorite quote that embodies your beliefs or values?
“Treat others the same way that you like to be treated”
Print This Page
Email This Page
