Name: Alexander Beare
Age: 27
High School: Instituto Uruguayo Argentino (I.U.A. – Punta del Este)
Degree Program: Bachelor's Degree in Management and Administration
Year of graduation: 2009
Employment: Merrill Lynch Operations Department
Interview published in April 2010.
In 2002, Alexander began studying for a bachelor's degree in Management and Administration at ORT University. In 2004, he participated in a student exchange program with Idaho State University. He has been working at Merrill Lynch since 2009.
Alexander decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Administration because of his interest in business-related topics. “I’ve always been passionate about numbers and everything related to starting a business.” He chose the program because he realized it offered “the perfect mix of courses.”
“I chose ORT because of its global reputation, the study-friendly schedule, and the quality and experience of the professors I would have throughout my degree program,” Alexander recalled.
“I really enjoyed my time here. Ever since I enrolled, I’ve seen the institution grow and improve year after year, becoming what it is today: the best university in Uruguay and one of the top 500 universities in the world. As more students enrolled, ORT kept pace with that growth through expansions and improvements,” he said.
He praised the excellent service provided by the library. “They were always friendly whenever I went to pick up a book or stayed for hours studying.”
He said he was pleased with the importance placed on the “Student Evaluation,” a questionnaire completed by students and graduates to identify the program’s strengths and areas for improvement.
“From the moment I started college, I was able to form a great group of friends with whom I’m still in touch today.” In this regard, he emphasized the importance of group projects, which foster interaction. “These mandatory assignments encourage teamwork and are very helpful in the future when you start working and interacting with people you don’t know,” he noted.
In 2004, he participated in the first international student exchange program organized by the School of Business and Social Sciences. “I went with a friend to study for a semester at Idaho State University, a university located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in the United States. It was an incredible, unforgettable, and very enriching experience,” he said.
After beginning his studies at ORT, he worked as an auditor at the Conrad Hotel casino: “It was my first job; I was able to apply many of the skills I had learned during my studies.” He also worked as an Executive Assistant and Trader at two financial firms in Zonamerica. He currently works in the Operations Department at Merrill Lynch, a subsidiary of the U.S. investment bank.
He believes that college prepares students and provides them with the tools they need to enter the job market. “What I appreciate most about ORT is its emphasis on fostering teamwork. When you start your career, you realize that it’s an essential skill for surviving in the fast-paced world of work. The skills I acquired throughout my degree made the transition from student life to the working world much easier.”
Alexander admits that he has many fond memories of college. “Our time as college students was anything but uneventful; it became a pivotal and important stage in the development of each of our lives,” he recalled. He hopes to continue his education and pursue a master’s degree in Financial Management at ORT University.