Name: Soledad Navarro Trigo
Age: 30
High School: Sacred Heart of Jesus School
Major: Bachelor's Degree in Management and Administration
Year of graduation: 2008
Employment history: Freelancer and entrepreneur
Interview published in November 2008.
In 2002, she began studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Management and Administration at ORT University. In 2000, she began working at the financial institution Exprinter Uruguay as an executive assistant; in 2002, she moved on to work as an assistant in the international treasury department. In 2008, she graduated and decided to start her own business.
After finishing high school, Soledad decided to take various short-term courses with the goal of quickly entering the job market. Over time, she discovered that the business world was her true calling. She then chose to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Management and Administration.
Soledad was drawn to the idea that this degree program would allow her to gain professional training and work either as an employee or as an entrepreneur running her own company. “That was the main reason I chose this profession, since the program provides all the knowledge necessary to lead and manage an organization.”
After researching the various options for pursuing her degree, Soledad chose ORT University. “I took various factors into account: academic prestige, the faculty, the availability of material resources, infrastructure, and the reputation of the program’s graduates.”
Soledad says her academic expectations were met. “Even after graduating and some time has passed, I still feel the need to maintain academic ties, since ORT holds a very important place in my professional life.”
Throughout her studies, she formed a close-knit group of friends. She stated that “having daily contact with a group of people who share the same goals is one of the most beautiful gifts the university environment offers.”
For Soledad, the friends she made at ORT became part of her family. “The memories are wonderful; I always think of the entire faculty, the coordinators, and everyone with whom we shared so many years together. My degree program has left me with a great treasure: the knowledge I’ve acquired over time, and that is the result of everyone who actively participates in the university.”
In 2000, she began working at a local financial institution. “As I advanced in my career, I also moved up within the company until I was put in charge of the International Treasury Department.” In 2008, she graduated and decided to go into business for herself.
Since March 2008, she has been working as an independent consultant and as an entrepreneur in various businesses. “I formed a partnership with a fashion designer, and together we are developing a business model to export our products to South America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile).”
Soledad clarified that her main objective is “to sell ‘design’ as a value-added service to different links in the industrial sector’s supply chain. My role in the venture as a business partner is to develop and implement the business model by identifying market niches that represent attractive business opportunities for our venture.”
She acknowledged that the university provided her with the necessary tools to take on her current responsibilities. “ORT gave me the fundamental building blocks to develop as an entrepreneur or independent consultant. Today, I feel that my degree allows me to compete in a different league within the job market, but above all, I value the independence that academic knowledge—with a strong pragmatic focus—has brought to my professional life.”