Name: Juan Sebastián Roda
Age: 23
High School: Elbio Fernández High School
Degree Program: Bachelor of Arts in Economics
Year of graduation: 2010
Job Title: Junior Analyst at Towers Watson
Interview published in December 2010.
In 2006, Juan began pursuing a bachelor’s degree in economics. In 2008, he started working at the international financial consulting firm Towers Watson. In 2010, he graduated and was promoted to junior analyst. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in financial management at the School of Business and Social Sciences.
- How did you come up with the idea of pursuing a degree at ORT?
- In the middle of my senior year of high school, I began to thoroughly research the various majors that interested me, and that’s how my interest in economics was sparked. I remember that at first, it wasn’t easy to understand what an economist actually does. I started attending informational sessions at universities, including ORT University. It was during an Introduction to Economics seminar that the Academic Coordinator of the Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Dr. Néstor Gandelman, summarized the different areas of economics in just a few minutes and showed how interesting they could be to study. I left convinced that the Bachelor’s Degree in Economics was exactly what I was looking for and that ORT University was the best choice.
- How did the race go for you?
- I must highlight the professionalism and warmth of the faculty. The university offers an ideal environment not only for academic growth but also for fostering interaction between students and professors. Additionally, the small class sizes allow professors to get to know each student very well. For example, when I go to campus today, I have the pleasure of running into and chatting with professors who remember exactly who I am.
- What do you think of the mandatory work program?
- Through "mandatory" projects, we go beyond the academic and foster something even more important: teamwork. This experience, which is crucial on both a professional and personal level, teaches us how to coordinate and organize a team in order to achieve a set goal. Additionally, I believe that the dynamic created leads to better performance, a higher level of learning, and, above all, a strong bond among team members.
- What memories do you have of your college days?
- The group of friends I made over the four years of my degree program was fantastic. We got together to celebrate birthdays, have barbecues, throw welcome parties, and we even organized a couple-day trip to the countryside. I had some truly unforgettable moments.
- Where and when did you start working?
- In my second year of college (April 2008), I began working as an Associate Analyst at Towers Watson, an international financial consulting firm with an office in Zonamérica. I had the opportunity to meet brilliant professionals and wonderful people. At first, I analyzed the performance of pension funds for multinational companies, provided financial information support services, wrote news articles related to the social security systems of Latin American countries, and also had the pleasure of seeing my first economic research paper published, which I co-authored with two colleagues from the firm.
- Where do you currently work?
- I am currently still working at Towers Watson. A few months after graduating, I was promoted to Junior Analyst, and over time I took on new responsibilities. Today, I write technical articles on economic research, manage some of the office’s projects, and handle client relationship activities with consultants in the United States. Additionally, this year I had the opportunity to travel to the United States for training on a new service the office will be offering. My experience at Towers Watson has been very enriching, and I highly recommend it to students who wish to get involved in the field of economic and financial research at the corporate level.
- Do you think college prepared you for the job market?
- Yes. One of the highlights of my job is that it gives me the opportunity to interact with professionals from around the world. This has allowed me to see that the knowledge I gained at ORT University is on par with the highest international academic standards.
- What are your plans for the future?
- I am currently finishing my first year of a master's degree in Financial Management and plan to take the CFA Level I exam in the near or medium term.