Impact
Being a part of HBSA goes beyond our four years at Arizona State University. We had a large amount of individuals who make up our HBSA Alumni. These people have chosen to stay connected with the association in order to provide guidance, motivation and examples to our current members. We have chosen to highlight the following individuals who once held HBSA membership's and are now out in the real world making an impact.
How did HBSA help you grow and help shape who you are today?
I served as VP in 1974-75, which gave me a leadership role in the Organization. As a practice, we would invite local corporate recruiters to our monthly meetings allowing our members to meet key people in the community. HBSA provided many of us with the confidence to interact in a business and professional setting.
What’s some of your favorite memories that you have from HBSA?
The Organization was in its infancy then, and recruiting Latinos from the local High Schools into the ASU College of Business was a key objective. The Dean of the College believed our Organization provided value in this recruitment effort and was a big supporter of HBSA. To see where the Organization has evolved is gratifying, and provides me with a large degree of accomplishment.
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If you could go back in time to tell your university self some kind of advice, what would it be?
Invest in Latinos, we are Arizona’s future! ASU President, Dr. Michael Crow understands and has embraced this message. Diverse student enrollment and graduation rates at ASU have steadily moved upwards during his tenure as President. HBSA must continue its work to remain relevant; we need more Latinos graduates from the College of Business so that we remain engaged in corporate America.
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What steps did you take to be in the position/role that you are in now within your company?
Be a key contributor to the company, gaining the respect of Senior Management and your peers. Continue to learn and gain knowledge, remain open to corporate change, volunteer for job assignments and play an active role in your community.
Edward Celaya
Class of 1975; graduated with a BA in Business Communications with a minor in Special Event Management. Currently works as a product operations and support associate for Guild Education
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Emily Ibarra
Class of 2017; B.S. Supply Chain Management. Currently works as Procurement Agent at The Boeing Company
How did HBSA help you grow and help shape who you are today?
I can confidently say that HBSA was a major influence in my success at ASU and has given me lifelong friendships and relationships. HBSA provided me with a lot of opportunities to improve my interview and business soft skills to help reach my career goals. It is a great organization to surround yourself with like minded and driven people.
What are some of your favorite memories for HBSA?
I honestly have too many memories to just pick a few, but probably the social events at our e-board members' house after general meetings. I also loved attending the Carne Asada tailgate during ASU homecoming and going to football games with my HBSA friends.
If you could go back in time to tell your university self some kind of advice, what would it be?
All the hard work is worth it in the end. Take the hard classes, get a minor or certificate and learn something outside of your comfort zone. Value the relationships you have and thank everyone that lends a hand.
What steps did you take to be in the position/role that you are in now within your company?
I got a supply chain internship with Boeing as a junior by attending an ASU career fair and was then offered a full time position upon graduating. Since then I have supported several commodities in procurement and contracting for Boeing.
How did HBSA help you grow and help shape who you are today?
HBSA really allowed me to develop and grow as a professional. Being on the executive board provided me the opportunity to be a leader. Leading projects, networking with corporate partners, strengthening my public speaking. The list honestly goes on and on. If you don’t have the opportunity to be on the executive board, I highly encourage you to join a committee. There are plenty of ways to get involved and contribute to this amazing organization.
What’s some of your favorite memories that you have from HBSA?
Honestly there are way too many, but one that stands out revolves around my roommates who were also HBSA members (Happy to say we are still very close). The three of us had Marketing together. Classes were at 7:30am… gross right? Well it was the night before a major test and we found ourselves still studying in HBSA’s office until three in the morning. Well, we spent the night in HBSA’s office. It was the worst sleep of our lives, but such a funny memory. Don’t tell Dr. O!
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If you could go back in time to tell your university self some kind of advice, what would it be?
Keep showing up despite all the obstacles life throws at you. College is hard. Starting life post-college is hard. Adulting is hard. But remember why you started in the first place. Be proud of yourself!
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What steps did you take to be in the position/role that you are in now within your company?
I made the scary decision to go back to school to obtain my MBA. I had plateaued in my previous role, which made work boring and far from challenging. I took some time to self-reflect and realized that if I wanted to better myself I needed to get out of higher education. One of the electives I took was high growth ventures. This is where I was introduced to my current company, Guild Education. Never would I have thought that I would be at a start-up in the technology department. It’s a blessing to go to work excited every day.
Deidre Zuniga
Class of 2015; graduated with a BA in Business Communications with a minor in Special Event Management. Currently works as a product operations and support associate for Guild Education
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Kim Montes
Class of 2017; Business & Data Analytics. Currently works as a Financial Analyst at Sprouts Farmers Market
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How did HBSA help you grow and help shape who you are today?
Overall, HBSA gave me the opportunity and tools to navigate college and the professional world. As a first generation college student you don’t always know how to navigate and make the most of your college years and it’s because of HBSA that I was able to learn how to prep for interviews and understand what types of internships and jobs were out there.
What are some of your favorite memories for HBSA?
The board retreats and banquets were always so fun!
If you could go back in time to tell your university self some kind of advice, what would it be?
To continue to give my best and to stop worrying about the future because at the end of the day hard work pays off!
What steps did you take to be in the position/role that you are in now within your company?
I had two internships, one in finance/accounting, and another in marketing, customer insights. After those two experiences I knew I wanted to be in a role that combined finance and data analytics. This lead me to my current role where I get to do the usual finance planning with a bit of data reporting to support the marketing department.
How did HBSA help you grow and help shape who you are today?
It created a community to lean on when the anxieties of college started to overwhelm me. I had positions that continued to open up my eyes to possibilities I could achieve alongside friends who helped shape my communication skills that are the reason I’m in my current role now.
What’s some of your favorite memories that you have from HBSA?
It’s the little things for me, the small socials of game nights to sports... the tailgate and even when we used to just volunteer together. I loved the people I met in HBSA so it was never a dull moment with us!
f you could go back in time to tell your university self some kind of advice, what would it be?
SLOW DOWN. Appreciate every small opportunity because it’s MY journey and no one else’s. There shouldn’t be this rising anxiety that you’re not where you’re supposed to be because your comparing your timeline or choices to that of someone else career path etc. Succeed for yourself not for the titles.
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What steps did you take to be in the position/role that you are in now within your company?
I like to be realistic when speaking about my experiences because that’s what students should hear. Optimism instead of criticism on the proper steps to landing a job out of college. I did not have an internship or even applied to Crescent Crown, quite frankly I didn’t have a job lined up after college. I was sweating bricks thinking about how I wasn’t successful as I should’ve been. Then I got a call with the hiring manager who was our facility tour lead back when I was a VP on the board. He was impressed with how I could hold my members in conversation, engage fully into what we were learning and my personality. I snagged an interview and the rest is history. Now I sell beer for one of the most nationally recognized liquor distributors. Point being, hone in on your skills. Trust your gut, and work hard for your success. Do not let your doubts decide your future because integrity can lead you down a great path like it did for me in HBSA.
Yesenia Lopez
Class of 2017; graduated with a BA in Business Communications. Currently works as an On Premise Sales Representative
Tristan Ochoa
Class of 2018; Computer Information Systems. Currently works as a Commercial Integration Analyst
How did HBSA help you grow and help you shape who you are today?
HBSA helped in such drastic ways, not only with my professional career but also my social circle. The people I have met in HBSA and still talk to today help guide through life as we share similar experiences being minorities in a corporate world. Without HBSA’s help to put me in leadership roles as an undergrad I do not think I would have the same confidence to continuously strive for more and more in my life today.
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What’s some of your favorite memories that you have from HBSA?
We once planned a group trip with about 20 HBSA members to attend the USHCC Annual Conference in Dallas, TX. It was great being able to bond outside of Tempe Campus and learn how to truly network in a different environment. Some of the memories from the trip I would never forget!
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If you could go back in time to tell your university self some kind of advice, what would it be?
My advice would be to let him know to study abroad. I think till this day it is my biggest regret for my university life. The experiences shared by my close friends from traveling to another country to study and seeing life through a different lens is something I wish I had taken the opportunity with. Other than that, it would also be to make better connections with my professors. The advice and leverage they have in the world outside of the classroom is highly underrated.
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​​What steps did you take to be in the position/role that you are in now within your company?
I’d first like to point out that without negotiation I would not be where I am today. I constantly try to push the envelope when it comes to pay, responsibilities, and even my relationships. It's best to ask and be denied then not ask at all. I am and always will be constantly looking for a better position, more leverage. My motto has always been to keep moving forward.
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