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Ramiro Castro '07, Argentina/Italy
“The international business knowledge acquired at Thunderbird is not theoretical, but practical. I would like to thank my professors for sharing with us experiences and methodologies to apply in the real world.”


Ramiro Castro '07

Many people believe that you either have a global business mind, or you don’t. But Ramiro Castro ’07 sees it differently.

“You will develop global awareness at Thunderbird,” explains the alumnus of Thunderbird’s Full-time MBA in Global Management program. “You’ll unconsciously analyze business situations asking ‘How can I grow and coordinate opportunities in several regions?’ or ‘What impact will this initiative have regionally and globally?’ and ‘How can I align local strategies to the global strategy?’”

Castro, born in Argentina and of Italian descent, says this natural global instinct is irreversible after studying at Thunderbird. It’s a tool that, today, is helping him gain business in Asia and Europe as a manager with Lloyd’s Register.

“I wanted to acquire international development skills that would eventually allow me to switch to nonprofit work,” explains the 33-year-old who, before attending Thunderbird, worked in Argentina’s corporate sector as a computer and micro-imager operator for GIRE, and later as an analyst, project leader and business leader for Telefonica. “Thunderbird is the best choice for both international business and development.”

His first position upon graduation from Thunderbird was as a senior consultant with New York-based UMT Consulting Group where, among other responsibilities, Castro delivered a management solution that involved individuals in 120 countries.

Soon thereafter, Castro accepted a senior consultant position with the United Nations Development Program at the U.N.’s New York headquarters. He was a knowledge management expert for 24 U.N. agencies in Europe and Africa and also led a virtual team located in the Slovak Republic. Within a year, he transferred to the U.N. office in Geneva, Switzerland, to be closer to constituents.

Today, Castro continues to hone his global management skills in the nonprofit sector. In 2008, he was tapped by risk management organization, Lloyd’s Register of London, to serve as a knowledge project manager. The company works with clients worldwide to reduce risk, enhance safety at sea, on land and in the air, and to improve business performance.

On any given day, Castro is identifying business opportunities for the company, meeting with senior managers, interfacing with his manager in Hong Kong and coordinating European and Asian resources.

“I really value my company for encouraging innovation and supporting an employee attitude to challenge established ideas and strategies,” says Castro. Thunderbird, he says, helped develop that level of comfort needed to challenge and share new ideas, even in sometimes-uncomfortable global settings. “As Professor Denis Leclerc says, ‘You have to feel comfortable with the uncomfortable.’”