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Franciso Pardo Aramburu '07 |
Franciso Pardo Aramburu '07
Francisco Pardo Aramburu ’07 is no stranger to the international world and its growing importance to everyday life.
“We see in the news every day how events that happen in Russia, China, Europe and the United States have an impact on our own economies,” explains Pardo, who attended an English high school in Peru, completed his undergraduate studies in the United States and studied abroad in Madrid, Spain. “All these experiences have gradually increased my interest in the international system.”
So has his position with multinational corporation Citibank Peru, where he has worked for eight years and was recently promoted to senior product manager for the credit card business.
“Because I work for an international company like Citibank, developing the right management skills for such a global context was critical,” explains Pardo, 30. On a daily basis, the Peruvian native says he works with individuals from across the globe. “Citibank has credit card businesses in more than 100 countries worldwide,” he adds.
Since beginning Thunderbird’s Global MBA program for Latin American managers, he has been promoted and has successfully launched a major co-brand product in Citibank Peru. As a senior product manager, Pardo plans campaigns, improves processes, develops new products, coordinates acquisition and credit activities, and develops partnerships – all while placing a priority on customer service.
“The credit card business is a very dynamic one that requires constant coordination of initiatives not only with different areas of the bank, but with several suppliers, partners, and regional teams,” explains Pardo.
He says that Thunderbird’s curriculum has helped not only with his career advancement, but also with daily activities. “One of the benefits of doing an MBA while continuing to work is the ability to apply the lessons learned to day-to-day work,” he says, pointing to his cross-cultural communications, accounting, finance and international political economy classes. “Thunderbird classes have given me the necessary tools to better understand all aspects of my business – both at the local and the regional levels.”
In particular, Pardo credits a Thunderbird business plan project for further sharpening his management skills. “We had to develop a business plan for Chile and had to evaluate the country, analyzing its international economic, political and socio-cultural aspects to enter the market with a specific business.”
The experience, he says, was invaluable. “We were able to understand what the most relevant aspects of a country’s macro environment were that needed to be analyzed when evaluating a business opportunity.”
As he looks into his global future, Pardo hopes to move up the management ladder. “My goal is to become an international manager at a large multinational company – preferably in the financial industry – being responsible for the design and implementation of the strategy for several countries or regions worldwide.”
In many respects, the English and Spanish speaking Pardo is already leading global teams in various countries. As the president of his Global MBA class at Thunderbird, he acts as an international coordinator among 180 students at all Global MBA campuses – in Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Peru, and the United States.
“It is critical that all campuses are totally coordinated in the ideas we present to the directors at Thunderbird and how we solve particular issues that arise along the way,” he adds.
Pardo’s affinity for learning and his attraction to working with new people, he says, was a definite catalyst for seeking the class president position that also requires close interaction with the Student Government Association.
“Traveling and working with new people adds a lot of value to life,” he says. “You are constantly exposed to new things and perspectives that enrich your experiences both at the personal and professional levels.”
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