Thunderbird at ASU grad cultivates global perspective and mindset through T-bird community
Vicente Ortiz. Photo courtesy of Thunderbird School of Global Management
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable fall 2024 graduates.
For Vicente Ortiz, education has always transcended academics. It’s also about connection — across cultures, communities and industries. That is exactly the environment that Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University provided for him to pursue a Bachelor of Global Management degree.
Originally from Mesa but more recently living in the town of Guadalupe, Arizona, Ortiz chose Thunderbird for his undergraduate studies with long-term global goals in mind, and the hopes of learning among a class that hails from every section of the globe.
"I was looking for a management education that would deepen my understanding of working across cultures and borders," Ortiz said. "Thunderbird was the perfect place to get a head start globally, especially learning from my peers who come from many different cultures and countries, including Indonesia, China, India, Zimbabwe, just to name a few."
A recipient of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the All-Arizona Academic Team Scholarship, Ortiz is also part of the Next Generation Service Corps, an undergraduate leadership development program where students engage in practical elements of leadership and take internships each summer working on real issues in the public, private and nonprofit sectors all while pursuing their own chosen social mission.
Ortiz will continue his studies at Thunderbird in the accelerated Master of Global Management program, which allows undergraduate students the opportunity to gain a master’s degree with just one additional year of study. And, for Ortiz, he is eager to make the most of it.
“I have attended our regional nights events and pub nights where T-birds, alumni and others at ASU meet together to connect and build relationships. I look forward to becoming even more involved as I continue my education as a graduate student,” he said.
Now, as Ortiz looks ahead, he reflects on the challenges he has overcome and his motivation to succeed throughout the journey, the latter of which is rooted in family.
“My nine nieces and nephews inspire me every day, and I hope to set a great example for them,” he said. “I want to instill in them the mindset of taking advantage of every opportunity that is presented — and to do it humbly with ambition and dedication.
“They are what keep me going, and I hope they know that they can accomplish anything they put their minds to.”
Question: What do you love about being a T-bird?
A: What I love about being a T-bird is learning from my peers who come from many different cultures and countries, including Indonesia, China, India, Zimbabwe and many more. I also love the Thunderbird Mystique that is present at Thunderbird, where there is an automatic connection that is created between every T-bird. We are like-minded peers that enjoy discussing issues facing countries, new emerging economies and the different cultural norms and languages present in different countries. Another reason I love being a T-bird is that there is always the capacity to keep learning from my peers, professors and business leaders. Every single one of our faculty has a wealth of international business experience that we have the pleasure of learning from. I love that every day is a challenge at Thunderbird, from the collaborative group projects to the Socratic seminar-type class format.
Q: What surprised you most during your time at Thunderbird?
A: What I learned at Thunderbird that changed my perspective was preparation. Before each class, we are expected to have read a business case with supporting articles and readings. This same preparation I will use when in company meetings to contribute to my company’s success because keeping your finger on the pulse is crucial for a successful career in international management. I have really enjoyed Thunderbird’s use of the case method. I learned about real-world business challenges facing the largest multinational companies globally, such as Coca-Cola, Colgate-Palmolive, Dove and Walmart, to name a few. This has allowed me to build a tool kit that I will use to solve the most pressing issues facing international organizations. Something else I will take with me for the rest of my life is the idea of the global mindset — the openness to differences, capacity for change and the ability to build trusting relationships with and among people from different cultures.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: My plans after graduation are to continue my work at a nonprofit, Paz De Cristo, in Mesa, Arizona, where I have served in numerous roles. If other opportunities arise, I will be looking to join a private multinational company in a supply chain or international manager role.
Q: For what are you most grateful for in life?
A: My family. They have supported me throughout my higher education journey. I could not have done it without them!
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