Thunderbird grad hopes to create change at intersection of business, social impact

Editor's note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2022 graduates.

“I knew I was home when I chose to enroll.”

Those are the words Pedro Gorozpe Aguilar used to describe his time at the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. Now, as he graduates this spring with a Master of Global Management, Gorozpe Aguilar reflects on what drove him to a place like Thunderbird.

A native of Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, México, Gorozpe Aguilar was searching for an education that offered a global perspective. And — after a work experience serving the Consulate General of Mexico in Phoenix — he knew he wanted to live a life advocating for others. 

“This job allowed me to see the world from another perspective. Being close to other people’s problems helped me realize how privileged I’ve been to have a family, health and access to education,” he said. “I told myself that I couldn’t afford to do anything and not contribute to society.” 

Gorozpe Aguilar took no time making his goals a reality. Since May 2021, he has been part of the Thunderbird For Good team as a program assistant in DreamBuilder, a unique training program helps women build their dream of starting or growing their own business. This experience helped solidify Gorozpe Aguilar’s plans after graduation to leverage business and technology for good.

“I would love to work at the intersection of technology and social impact,” he said. “Thunderbird teaches with these values at the focus. Using business as a source of good to create prosperity and sustainability worldwide is what I hope to achieve.”

Question: What do you love about being a T-bird?

Answer: I love that the school is very innovative and fully equips us to transcend as human beings and managers across borders. I love being part of this family and how it has given me a sense of identity and belonging to something much greater. Finally, I loved that I have found many great faculty, people, mentors and lifelong friends from multicultural backgrounds.

Q: Regarding our recent grand opening and the 75th-anniversary global reunion, what does it mean to you to have been part of this historic moment in Thunderbird’s history?

A: Being part of the celebrations made me realize how big and real the T-bird family is, and how far we can go as a community. It was amazing to see and hear the commitment of the university to thrive and reach greatness as a business school and as an agent of change. This week was truly an incredible experience. 

Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

A: I would like to call them challenges instead of problems because problems have solutions, and while challenges may not have a tangible solution around the corner, we can address them with a different mindset focusing on small actions with big outcomes.

If someone gave me $40 million, I would address the challenge of digital inclusion and the digital literacy gap in emerging markets and underserved communities. I want to empower small and medium enteprises (SMEs) and private-owned businesses through education, technology and digital tools to create more resilient communities and businesses. Technology is here to augment our lives but is powerless if people can’t access it.

Q: For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

A: For my family always, God and health. La familia lo es todo.