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”