International
“In general, doing business on an international scale is a big challenge,” says George Calienes, senior VP of Latin American operations for McQuay International. “… You have to adapt to local customs, not think locals will adapt to your policies and practices.”
Daniel Ayala travels the globe as executive vice president and head of Wells Fargo’s global remittance services group. He describes the correct way to accept a business card in China, why soft handshakes are a sign of respect in India, and more.
Not wanting to live in his father’s shadow in his native Caracas, Venezuela, Miguel A. Zaldivar Jr. accepted a position at a Miami law firm, which required him to go back to law school to earn a US law degree. Simultaneously, he struggled to build a client base, perfect his English-speaking skills, and prepare for the birth of his first child with his wife.
“Latin America contains a number of volatile and cyclical markets, so you have to have the timing right,” says Carlos Astolfi, senior VP of finance and administration for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. in Latin America.
HR guru Karinna Rojas of Siemens Corporation doesn’t miss a beat handling far-flung projects that require the ability to be culturally savvy and internationally in-tune with the needs of a global workforce.
With almost three decades in the shoe business, Pacific Shoe Corporation’s president Antonio Sanchez stays one step ahead of the competition.
As the man responsible for leading and growing Diebold’s Latin American business, Mike Mateo focuses on providing the banking industry with innovative solutions that resonate with the needs of the complex region.
“When you work abroad it’s not just work, it expands who you are,” says Cesar Estrada of J.P. Morgan.
As general counsel Americas for The Sol Group Corporation, Marisol Mateos playfully describes her role as “part attorney and part psychologist.” Find out why.
Ignacio Alvarez shares how his legal skills are helping Popular, Inc., the largest Hispanic-run financial organization in the US, enter new markets.
Vicente Navarro surpasses all goals as director of Hispanic marketing for Sports Endeavors, Inc. “The future for us in this country is to open the borders and be more international in what we do and how we do things,” Navarro says.
Global players such as Natalia Ruderman of IBM and three other international executives from the US Department of State, Accenture, and Molex reveal why being bicultural offers a competitive edge in today’s increasingly interdependent world.
Mayda Prego works closely with legal systems in Africa and Latin America as senior counsel of Chevron Corporation.
Dominican-born Rosa Estrella makes navigating cultural expectations a priority in her international role as senior legal director of Eisai Inc.
As the 39-year-old corporate counsel for Caterpillar Inc., the number-one maker of earthmoving machinery and agriculture equipment in the world, Guillermo Levy has come a long way.
Chief global marketing counsel Laura Quintano keeps the beauty giant’s promotional tactics in line
Alejandro Quiroz on how he went from scooping yogurt at his father’s shop in Puebla, Mexico, to his “dream job” overseeing manufacturing processes worldwide to support Whirlpool’s international brands.
During his 17 years with Shell Oil, Hector Pineda has steadily risen through the ranks of this multinational firm’s legal-services department. A New Orleans native, he readily credits his family and their shared Hispanic heritage as pivotal to his own success.
A “cross-border” consultant who in his previous life led the “Latinization” of Continental Airlines, Pete Garcia discusses why cultivating relationships is more important than closing a deal.