Andrea Chevasco Quiroz

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF; YOUR HOBBIES, YOUR CHILDHOOD, MOTIVATION AND CAREER PROGRESSION SO FAR?

I am Ecuadorian and 37 years old. I am the oldest of three siblings; both my parents had solid professional careers. My father is an entrepreneur and an engineer involved in the construction world and my mother worked for more than 30 years in the banking industry. She was a top executive and one of the first women in the sector in Ecuador. I think my motivations came from my parents, who always challenged me to achieve my dreams and build the best version of myself every day.

I have been married to Luis since 2008 and we have two children: Luis Andres, aged 11 and born in Ecuador, and two-year-old Valeria who was born in Peru. Both my kids are the source of my inspiration. I love to spend time with my family and enjoy outdoor activities with them. We have been living in Peru for the last seven years and it has been one of the best experiences in my life, having the opportunity to raise my kids in a new culture. My husband is a Supply Chain Director for a multinational confectionery company in the Andean Region.

In terms of my career progression, I have been developing my career in finance: working closely with the business sector and adding value and growth in everything I do by participating in different strategic projects—from footprint design, mergers & acquisitions, and greenfield startups to lean manufacturing and non-manufacturing implementations. From my point of view, finance leaders play a critical role in challenging businesses to take advantage of any opportunity instead of avoiding risk. I had the opportunity to work in all finance roles in different countries and regions, which gave me a holistic mindset and a versatile profile.

WHAT EXPERIENCE, IN PARTICULAR, WOULD YOU SAY PUSHED YOU TO VENTURE INTO FINANCE?

When I finished high school, I was attracted to finance or architecture from the beginning, and I always had the ability to manage numbers. I was also passionate about design and construction. My introduction to finance was so natural; this function has the advantage of managing all numbers from businesses, connecting different areas and leading the design and transformation of processes in any industry. Data drives business decisions, and that’s where I enjoy being part of it.

WHAT FINANCIAL AREA ARE YOU MOST INTERESTED IN AND WHY?

Strategic Planning and Business Analysis are the most interesting for me. That is where the company’s strategy starts, and it is how companies move from strategy to execution. Being part of setting a vision with bold goals and initiatives, and helping the teams achieve those goals, motivates me.

CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE PLACES YOU’VE WORKED OR VOLUNTEERED? GIVE A DEEPER INSIGHT INTO YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE.

I had the opportunity to work in regional positions that allowed me to travel and study different cultures and business environments in Latin America—Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile and Central America.

Exposing ourselves to different cultures and countries is challenging but, at the same time, generates a set of skills such as influencing, leadership and resilience; that is what I really value from my career.

FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD AN IMPRESSIVE RUN IN THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GUIDING PRINCIPLE? WHAT HAS KEPT YOU GOING STRONG FOR MORE THAN 19 YEARS?

Something that drives me is learning from experiences and others. I genuinely believe that you can build the best version of yourself every day, and that is a competitive advantage because it requires a positive attitude, resilience and value for the people with whom you work.

If you fall, you start again; if you make a mistake, you learn and continue. We can build any possibility—you just need to set goals and work hard to achieve them. Discipline is vital, and I apply those concepts both professionally and personally.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE IE BROWN EXECUTIVE MBA IN PARTICULAR?

This program from well-recognized and acclaimed global institutions such as IE University and Brown University brought the best of the business environment and humanities in one program. It challenged us as business leaders to build a better society and change the way we do business with a meaningful purpose. In my case, I was able to grow and develop within my career, so I wanted to expand my strategic vision by being exposed to a worldwide network, as well as aligning personal values with business values to create a better world for our future.

SHARE SOME KEY PROJECTS OR RESEARCH WORKS YOU DID WHILE PARTICIPATING IN THE IE BROWN EXECUTIVE MBA PROGRAM?

I had the opportunity to work with top executives from Latin America and Europe on a key reflection project, which was one of the best experiences in the program. We researched how to create business and social values at the Intersection of migration and the gig economy, focusing on Venezuelan migration—the second-largest external displacement crisis in the world.

By doing this project, we had the opportunity to connect with business leaders and migrants to develop a set of initiatives to drive business value, as well as provide a better experience for Venezuelan migrants. As business leaders, this type of project generates a profound impact because it allows us to incorporate all that we learned during the IE Brown Executive MBA program and, simultaneously, develop a strong connection with our colleagues.

WHAT DID YOU LIKE THE MOST ABOUT THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE OF THE IE BROWN EXECUTIVE MBA PROGRAM?

• The hybrid approach was a highlight because I not only had the opportunity to interact in face-to-face classes between Providence and Madrid, but also work remotely with my colleagues during the entire program;
• The well-recognized staff of professors, who are experts in their fields, challenged us to be the best in each session, and;
• The group’s diversity was amazing: different professional experiences, nationalities, genders—over 40% were women—and backgrounds.

HOW DID THE IE BROWN EXECUTIVE MBA HELP YOU IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY?

I summarized my experience in this program with three highlights: 

• Learning from a global network impacted how I see opportunities across the world; what I learned from my colleagues was meaningful as a business leader;
• Access to best practices regarding sustainability, climate change and DEI initiatives that can change the way of doing business, and;
• Expanding my strategic vision by being involved in different projects outside finance gave me a more versatile profile.  

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE NON-ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE WHILE STUDYING FOR YOUR IE BROWN EXECUTIVE MBA?

The most memorable non-academic experience during my studies was the opportunity to develop a strong connection with my colleagues throughout the program. The daily interaction and face-to-face meetings in Providence and Madrid created a strong relationship where I felt supported, challenged and appreciated. When I started the program, I was also starting a new role in a new company as CFO of Supermercados Peruanos, as well as raising a one-year-old baby in the middle of a pandemic. I admit I was scared initially but, with the support and motivation of my family members and colleagues, I accomplished this goal. 

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS, GOALS AND NEXT STEPS AS SOON AS YOU GRADUATE?

I am focused on bringing global best practices to my company and team in order to accelerate our business growth and generate a meaningful impact on Peruvian families. In my current role as CFO, I am working on my company’s international expansion, which drives different opportunities to continue building success stories for the future.

I will continue leading organizations and seeking opportunities to move forward outside of finance in the future to continue expanding my career. As a Latin woman, mother of two and business leader, I want to continue generating opportunities for future generations that contribute to the development of Latin America and reduce the level of social, gender-based, and economic inequalities. I also hope to be an example to my children by creating value for society, not only by being aware but also active and responsible citizens from any corner they participate.

ANY ADVICE OR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STUDENTS STUDYING AT IE BUSINESS SCHOOL OR BROWN UNIVERSITY?

My advice is to enjoy every single day of this experience. When you start this program, you will probably be clear about where to go. This experience will help you with how you want to build this pathway, what you want to make, and the legacy you want to share as a business leader.