From Latin America to LA, USC Graduates Look to Make a Global Impact

From engineering and finance to public policy and health, students from Mexico and across Latin America graduated from USC this past May with a wide range of backgrounds and career goals. 

For Jaime Reyes Sánchez of Mexico, Hans Ventosilla of Peru, and Mauricio Salazar and Alexandra Diaz of Colombia, USC became a supportive, dedicated community where they could not only advance their knowledge and skill sets, but also challenge themselves in a global environment to make a meaningful difference throughout their industries.

Below, the recent graduates share how they are taking the next step in their personal and professional journeys.

Building on Experience

Salazar, founder of the software company Pandoty, enrolled in the Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEMT) program to strengthen his ability to scale his technology company internationally by combining engineering expertise with business strategy.

“I wanted a program that would help me connect both worlds,” he told the USC Mexico Office. “USC gave me exactly that.”

Diaz chose the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program after discovering USC’s reputation for quantitative rigor and focus on social impact. With a background in international relations and experience in human rights, migration and peacebuilding, she wanted to develop new skills and tools to continue her work promoting economic mobility.

For Reyes Sánchez, pursuing a PhD in Epidemiology meant joining a university that “meets the highest academic standards.” Already trained as a physician and biostatistician, he was drawn by USC’s faculty expertise in environmental health and the opportunity to contribute to research addressing the effects of extreme heat on human health.

Meanwhile, finance professional Ventosilla sought an experience that would push him beyond his comfort zone and connect him “with a global community.” After more than a decade working in banking and risk management in Peru, he enrolled in the MBA and Master of Science in Finance (MSF) programs to develop a broader international business perspective.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

While each graduate valued the academic rigor of their program, they agree that many of their most meaningful experiences happened outside the classroom.

For Salazar, USC’s entrepreneurship ecosystem — including the incubator program, networking events, and access to entrepreneurs, investors and industry leaders — helped him refine his vision for growing Pandoty into a global technology company.

“USC was not only a place to take classes,” he said. “It was a platform that allowed me to build valuable relationships, understand how global entrepreneurial ecosystems work, and see my own company and career from a much bigger perspective.”

Ventosilla found similar value through hands-on consulting projects with multinational companies. Working alongside classmates from around the world, he contributed to projects with Infosys, Rivian and Volkswagen, applying classroom concepts to real business challenges.

“These experiences were able to strengthen my ability to work in diverse teams and better understand how decisions are made in global organizations,” he said.

Diaz credits USC’s faculty and collaborative learning environment with further preparing her for a research and evaluation career focused on helping vulnerable communities. She says professors and classmates alike inspired her to continue pursuing meaningful work in public service.

Reyes Sánchez emphasized the mentorship and peer-to-peer support he received throughout his doctoral studies. Beyond research guidance, he found a community that supported both academic success and personal well-being through university resources ranging from tutoring to family-related services.

“My mentors and peers possess not only exceptional technical expertise and intellectual ability, but are also warm and supportive individuals,” he said.

Preparing for Global Impact

The graduates are already using their USC education to advance their career goals and increase their impact across countries and fields.

Salazar plans to further expand Pandoty in Latin America and the United States, utilizing artificial intelligence to improve sales operations, retail intelligence and business processes while creating opportunities for talent across borders.

Diaz hopes to continue working in research and international cooperation, supporting initiatives that increase economic mobility for underserved populations.

Reyes Sánchez will begin a postdoctoral fellowship at University of California, Davis, studying “the association between various environmental exposures and cognitive health outcomes, including dementia,” as he builds toward an independent research career in environmental epidemiology.

Ventosilla aims to continue his finance career in the U.S., bringing together his extensive experience in Latin American banking with the strategic and global perspective he developed at USC.

Although their academic paths differ, all four graduates shared similar advice for prospective students from Mexico and Latin America: Take advantage of everything USC has to offer.

They encouraged future Trojans to look beyond coursework by attending campus events, connecting with professors and alumni, participating in student organizations and entrepreneurship programs, and embracing the USC community.

They also emphasized that students should not underestimate the value of their own perspectives.

“Our background gives us resilience, creativity, adaptability and a unique perspective,” Salazar said. “USC is a place where that perspective can become a strength.”

Ventosilla echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of establishing relationships: “No one builds this path alone,” he said. “Finding a supportive community makes a real difference.”

Learn more about USC graduate programs and connect with the USC Mexico Office today.