“I started my studies feeling scared and uncertain. ORT helped me open my eyes to the world,” he said, recalling those early days at the School of Business and Social Sciences.
She felt that leaving school and facing the real world was a huge leap. However, her bachelor's degree in International Studies opened her eyes to other ways of thinking and realities different from her own.
Fischel graduated in 2003, more than 20 years ago. The classes motivated her to study beyond the required curriculum, and the teachers left a lasting impression on her. “ORT made me happy and made me feel like part of a community,” she said.
An internship that changed everything
Her first major career move was an internship at the Jaume Sere Group. She started out as a receptionist, making photocopies and helping out wherever she could, but her attitude didn’t go unnoticed. “I was always passionate and wanted to give more,” she says. Her boss, Jorge “Tato” Sere, was not only her mentor but also the one who offered her the chance to stay with the company.
What started as an internship turned into a full-time job and then into a journey that led her to head up the Miami branch. For her, it was never “just an internship.” From the very beginning, she strove to be the best version of herself and to inspire others with that same energy.
Today, more than 20 years later, she is the CEO of that same company. “I know that often you can give it your all and still go unnoticed, which is why I’m deeply grateful that he saw me,” she reflected. She added: “And I’m grateful to ORT, which literally set me on the path I’m still following today. If it weren’t for the lessons I learned at ORT and the internship I completed, I wouldn’t be in this position.”
Challenges Beyond Borders
Moving to the United States wasn't easy. The contrast between the idealized image of Miami and reality came as a shock. The language, the laws, the culture—everything required constant adjustment. “I faced situations I never imagined: a federal trial, government inspections, tense negotiations,” he recalled. Still, he noted that he always had “the peace of mind and confidence that I was doing things right, honestly and transparently.”
He also had to deal with the emotional toll: being far from his loved ones, missing out on important moments, and grieving from a distance. However, all that effort was worth it.
“I knew I was beginning to shape my future. Today, I sit here and look back, and I know that none of it was in vain. I was able to help my family and friends. I always knew that my efforts were focused on my mission, which was to help.”
From a family business to a multinational corporation
The company where she started began to grow. With those changes came new demands: reports, corporate structures, and less personal interaction. But she remained committed to the same goal: solving problems, inspiring her team, and keeping her positive attitude as her key differentiator.
“What you know adds up, but your attitude multiplies it,” he said.
ORT as a starting point
When she looks back on her life, ORT plays a central role. “A top-tier university gave me the education I needed to feel confident, strong, and equipped with the tools to go the extra mile in my life,” she said.
It was the beginning of everything: of change, of opportunities, of her career. She is grateful to her parents for their efforts in making it possible for her to study, and to the university for providing her with the environment to grow.
“Happiness lies on the other side of fear,” he concluded.