Speakers February 22, 2022
Mercedes Fevre – Keynote Speaker Senior Digital Consultant and Professor of Ecommerce and Digital Marketing
●Born in Switzerland, black belt of martial art jiu-jitsu and mother of an amazing 21 year old girl.
●Outside of work she loves to try different things, be in the nature and practice sports with friends and family.
●Currently she is also doing a PhD about Dishonesty in Decision Making.
Vladimir Vava Atanackovic Chief Executive Officer Carlsberg Serbia Group Hydraulic Engineer Vladimir manages commercial and production activities in the Balkans. Over the last 26 years, Vladimir has worked for multinational corporations in eight countries within Europe, mainly in Sales & Marketing, General Management and Human Resources. He is married and has two children, one is currently a senior at ASM and the other graduated from ASM in 2020. Vladimir would like to tell students about the impact of their choices after graduation (what and why to choose a specific industry). Then he would like to share his personal experience about why he chose Carlsberg as an employer. His main point is that it is not solely about the bottom line or the share price that drives one's decision, but something more, something very personal that will make you passionate and willing to grow in the business environment.
David Urgell Senior Vice President (ViacomCBS) David Urgell is a Spanish citizen, born in Barcelona, lived in Spain and The Netherlands, married and with 2 girls in middle school. His hobbies include cooking, spending time with his family, watching series, and travelling, Works in a big American Media company ViacomCBS and is in charge of Developing Streaming strategy in International markets. In this workshop, students will learn the importance of creative industries and its impact on society. They will focus on long term career pathways, adaptation and flexibility, as well as ability to work in multicultural-national environments. Students will receive Insights about Media industry and how interesting the streaming sector is. They will find out what it is to work in a very dynamic industry and in international markets and how to build long term partnerships an build a business network.
William Dowling Real Estate Private Equity Consultant William helps private equity clients build hotel and student platforms in Spain. William studied hotel administration at Cornell University. After graduating from Cornell, he worked for Morgan Stanley Fixed Income for 1 year, then moved on to hedge fund Mariner Investments where he worked for 7 years. Following this he worked for PwC Hotel M&A in Madrid for 1 year. Next he worked for 2 years as head of portfolio management spain Greystar (1.0bn portfolio). Finally after Greystar’s management he decided to start his own private equity consulting business. Students will learn the importance of not giving in to the voice in your head that says that you need to do something else to be "enough" for work, school, social, or personal life - you already are enough.
Jose Luis González Junco Europe Operations Manager (Amazon) Jose Luis supports the Design and Construction Team to deliver Sortation Centers across Europe. He is an Industrial Engineer, who studied at UPM, Ecole Centrale de Lyon and received an MBA from IESE Business School. He is also the father of two ASM students and has worked and lived in 14 countries. Students will learn how to Work Hard, Have Fun, Make History.
Oguz Mut Software Development Manager (Amazon) Parent of an ASM 6th grader, Oguz was born in Germany, and grew up in Turkey. Before Spain, he lived in Canada, and the USA. He likes discovering cities by randomly walking on the streets. Oguz started his career as a Software Development Engineer (SDE) in Turkey. After 8 years of experience, he moved first to Pacific Northwest (first Vancouver, Canada, then Seattle, WA) where he worked at Microsoft as an SDE. Oguz was part of the Sharepoint product, developing features. For the last 10 years he has been working at Amazon, working in Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon Photos, and is currently working for the Books organization developing features for authors. Oguz ensures that new features are developed, delivering value for the customer. While doing this he also helps engineers grow in their careers. Students will learn how the daily life of a software development team looks like. They will also learn the social aspect of software development and how often we come across uncertainties/unknowns.
Andrea Mackay Hotel Management Andrea is the Director of Content and Localization of the Radisson Hotel Group, one of the world's largest and most dynamic hotel groups, recognised as 4th Best Employer in Travel & Leisure Industry by Forbes. It holds nine distinctive brands and more than 1,600 hotels in operation and under development worldwide. Born in the UK, Madrileña by adoption, ASM educated, followed by Hotel Management School. She has now been working for 17 years in the hospitality industry, spent both in the field and at corporate offices covering different roles from sales, marketing, content management and translation expert. Andrea has a solid experience in medium and large-scale hotel companies including well know international and national chains. On the personal side, living in Madrid with her husband, 10 year old daughter, 2 dogs, she feels privileged to work in what she loves. Students will learn what a dynamic industry hospitality is, and how natural talents and skills can help pave the way to success in an industry. Highlight that it's so much more than a service industry and the skills learnt can be applied across the board in all types of roles and businesses.
George Cabanas Research & Development Manager Smile Design Company (Engineer) DSD company provides education, planning, lab services and digital technologies to help Dentists perform better dentistry for their Patients. As the Research and Development Manager, George’s position requires 3 main roles: 1) Investigate new technology and determine how it could be applied to dentistry 2) Develop new dental products and how to manufacture them, and 3) Coordinate a team of software developers for our App. George is an Electrical Engineer with a specialization in Telecommunications and Computing management from NYU Polytechnic Institute. During the past 17 years, George has moved from Telecom into the Dental field specializing in the manufacturing of prostheses and clinical appliances. George's first contact with 3D printing occurred in 2007 when creating a dental implant guided surgery solution. Since the first contact with adaptive manufacturing, George has been using 3D printing daily to manufacture models, surgical guides, prostheses, and the prototyping of R&D products. Students will learn about 3D dental design and 3D Print dental appliances.
Eliana Perinat Visual/Fine art Artist and Art Therapist Eliana studied Advertising & Graphic Design at universities in Madrid and NY, and worked at art agencies and graphic design studios. Art was always calling her and at 30 she decided to make it her profession. and undertook a PHD Fine Art program, and workshops with international artists. For Eliana, art is a path of consciousness, which connects her to reality. Through her practice she can focus, see, and wonder about herself and the world. Nature has always been her main inspiration, as a way of re-enchantment with life. Her main practice is painting and drawing, although she also engages in installation, video and photography… Parallel to her work as an artist and following her interest in the healing role of art, she started Art Therapy training in 2007. Students will learn about her professional journey and about the concepts and aesthetics that hold a body of work together, and the creative evolution between them. They will be introduced to the techniques used in each case as well as the basics of healing and growth through expressive arts.
Jessie Huaracayo Diplomat U.S. diplomat and parent of 2 ASM students. Jessie and her team work to strengthen the bilateral relationship and advance U.S. objectives. Her team monitors, analyzes, and reports on local and international issues; advises the Ambassador and Washington on political issues; and explains the U.S. position to Spanish government and nongovernmental contacts. Jessie studied Diplomacy and World Affairs (international relations) at Occidental College, spending one semester in Lima and another semester interning for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York. She joined the State Department as a Foreign Service Officer in 2003 and has served in Copenhagen, Tijuana, Lima, Havana, Washington, and Madrid. She always has loved languages, learning about other cultures, and making connections with people. Jessie learned Spanish when she was 16, when she was an exchange student for a year in a tiny town in Chile where no one spoke English. Students will learn the basics of bilateral and multilateral diplomacy.
Gabriela Echevarria International Human Rights Lawyer Gabriela is an ASM parent and will be presenting with Lori Mann. Gabriela has a PHD in Law from the University of Essex, a LLM (Master of Law) from Harvard Law School, and an undergraduate degree from the UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico). After working predominantly as a lawyer, Gabriela has recently been involved in projects with innovative approaches to promoting human rights. She is working with film director Polo Menarguez in collaboration with the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) and the Essex Transitional Justice Network (ETJN) on a documentary revisiting the Spanish transition to democracy. She is also involved in strategic litigation, and is currently co-counsel with the law firm ReedSmith in a sexual abuse case against UN peace keepers in Haiti. Her passion for international law started when she won first place in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in 1998. She has litigated extensively before human rights courts/bodies (as counsel) and international criminal tribunals (as intervenor). Students will learn how the legal public sector operates at the international level; what opportunities exist in human rights and what it means to work as a lawyer in NGOs and international organizations.
Lori Mann
Lori Mann International Human Rights Lawyer Lori is an ASM parent and will be presenting with Gabriela Echevarria. Lori grew up in California and attended law school with the aim of becoming an international women's rights lawyer. She has a BA from University of California, Berkeley and a JD from Columbia Law School. Lori works in a freelance capacity for various UN agencies, the Council of Europe and other inter-governmental agencies on a variety of tasks and issues, including women's rights, gender-based violence, human trafficking, minority rights and anti-discrimination, access to justice, international criminal and humanitarian law. She conducts field missions and situational and institutional assessment, assists national actors to draft legislation, draft amicus curaie briefs for international tribunals, conducts trainings, and drafts reports, among other tasks. Students will gain a basic understanding of institutional actors in public international human rights law, diverse examples of advocacy and explore the diverse roles that can be played in the field.
Lamberto Camacho Chief Executive Officer (Ibox Energy) Lamberto is the CEO of Ibox Energy (a renewable energy company). Ibox Energy is one of the largest independent renewable energy companies in Spain. They finance and build large scale solar power plants, as well as produce green hydrogen (produced through renewable sources of electricity) and capture and store CO2 in order to mitigate the impact of pollution on the Earth Born in Tijuana Mexico, Lamberto attended the University of San Diego where he majored in Political Science. After school he went to work for IBM, then evolved into a clean energy professional where he has been focused on delivering large scale renewable energy and climate change solution for almost 15 years. He’s worked in Mexico, Chile, the US, China, Spain, Italy, France, and across Africa trying to transform the way people see their role as consumers of energy and impacting the way energy is produced. Students will learn that careers are an evolution. When he went to college his current profession didn't exist and he arrived at where he is now by following his passion for stewardship of the world and by being adaptable to change. They will learn that clean energy technology is not only evolving in ways that were unthinkable only a few years ago, but that it is also a profitable and scalable business were multiple fields like engineering, finance, business, environmental, construction, and many others can prosper and contribute to the fight against climate change.
Giancarlo Picazo del Rosario Advertising Guru & International Educator After working in Manhattan’s advertising industry, he paved his way into international education which led me to teach, live, and breath places like Abu Dhabi, São Paulo, Mexico City, and Northern Morocco. Earlier in life he grew up in Manila, Taipei, Boston, and Madrid. Presently, he returned to Madrid in 2019 and continue to be involved in international education, advocacy work, and tapping into the world the of arts through fashion. Yet, all of the areas have many things in common. Today, he wants to share with you something very important that will make you successful.
Anna Lisa McBride Business Owner/Entrpreneur Mother, wife, student, and owner of Comfortable Wardrobe™ , an online boutique that sells a small range of products From owning shares in multinational licensing agencies to working with companies in the toy and licensing industry to establish their online presence and grow their network, Anna Lisa’s focus has always been on branding and marketing across many industries and areas of business. She has worked with large and small companies to rethink and refocus their brand and sales strategy. Anna Lisa is fascinated by dress history and loves to design and sew clothes. Her passion to be more sustainable in terms of how to approach fashion, specifically, how textiles and clothes are designed, manufactured, consumed and appreciated, has led her to her current university studies in Copenhagen, Denmark. Students will learn what a fast moving, non-linear career path can look like. And how to NOT put so much pressure on choosing a school or a major, but more about the network that one should build throughout life.
Rosalind Williams Visual Artist and Curator Rosalind is a former teacher at ASM. She is a working artist and organises exhibitions for public and private institutions. Students will learn how to enter art professions, how to approach, initiate and continue a career as an artist.
Photo: Tino Calabuig ©
Luis Felipe Díaz Galeano General Manager Atmósfera Literaria, SL Presently General Manager and Principal editor of Atmósfera Literaria, SL. As part of his general manager role, Luis Felipe deals mostly with public institutions (National Library, Real Academia de la Lengua, Depósito Legal/ ISBN Agency, etc.), authors, libraries, bookstores and distributors. He is also the main editor of certain authors. Luis Felipe studied Business & Economics at Complutense University of Madrid, and earned a degree in Visual Arts at the Instituto Superior de Arte. Students will learn how to face reality with common sense assuming full responsibility and by applying values and ethics.
Nils Eric Hallberg, Jr. Colonel, US Air Force/US Senior National Representative - CAOC-TJ Nills graduated in 1997 with a B.S. in Psychology/Pre-Medical studies from Campbell University (North Carolina). He also has an M.B.A. in International Relations from Touro University, and a Masters in Military Science from Air University. Prior to Spain (after completing 10 years of flying) Nils was given staff assignments in strategic/operational & tactical planning. These included jobs in Italy and Spain, and at the Pentagon covering missions for the United Nations in Africa and the Sinai. He’s worked with colleagues in the US Congress, Department of State and the White House regarding matters of international political agreements and UN observers. He is a pilot in large aircraft (Boeing 707 & McDonald Douglas DC-10), having logged over 3,400 total hours and over 100 combat missions in both EUCOM and CENTCOM Areas of Responsibility. Nils is married (26 years) and has 3 wonderful children (Ethan, Ella and Aidan Hallberg). As for hobbies, he is an avid traveler, enjoys cycling and classic cars, and reads frequently on subjects ranging from current events to world history. Nils hopes to give the students a perspective that will help them design their own paths for what to do after they graduate from ASM/High School. They will hear what it is like to work with Aircraft, with the United Nations, and with NATO.
Mercedes Fevre Senior Digital Consultant and Professor of Ecommerce and Digital Marketing Expert in digital channels with more than fifteen years in the digital world in multinationals such as Amazon and also in start-ups. Since 2020, Mercedes has worked as a consultant and trainer in online sales and digital marketing for large companies, SMEs and entrepreneurs. Her experience in the field, constant training, and active listening have allowed her to collaborate with large companies and business schools. Having a scientific background of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology has helped her develop resilience and openness to new ideas based on data. Her spirit of constant improvement and energy are the differentiating factors which define her own challenges and those of her clients in the necessary change for today’s and tomorrow goals. Students will learn to about resilience, curiosity, never giving up, working hard and making history.
Carolina Rodriguez Baptista Designer (Graphics & Interior) & Sculptor Carolina is a business owner who works as a Creative Director in Graphic and Interior design projects. She is the mother of two ASM students. Students will learn how she got where sh is, what it is like to work in the design world and how it has evolved over the years. She will also talk about being an artist, exhibiting, and making a living off her art.
Barend Hart Real Estate Entrepreneur Barend is the owner and director Lucas Fox International Properties, a Luxury Real Estate Agency with 30 offices in Spain specialised in selling prime residential properties to foreign buyers Barend is a Dutch national who has spent the majority of his professional life outside The Netherlands. He worked and lived in New York and London before moving to Madrid. He has two sons at ASM and is a passionate soccer fan and cyclist. Before moving into real estate, he worked 20 years in investment banking at Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank. He obtained a medical doctor degree at the University Leiden transitioning into business career through full time MBA IESE. Students will learn the importance of building transferable skill sets and good habits which are key to achieving success independent of which career path one chooses. He will talk about the importance of never stopping to learn and self development. Also, he will address the positives and negatives to consider in a medical, investment banking, or real estate career.
Bernard J. Green Regional Security Officer Supervisory Special Agent, Diplomatic Security Service U.S. Embassy Madrid, Spain 1998 to Present -- Diplomatic Security Service: Supervisory Special Agent / Served tours in Egypt, Japan, India, Iraq, Malaysia, Pakistan, Spain / Temporary duty: Philippines, Israel, East Timor / Inspections: Cambodia, Indonesia, China, Thailand, Papua New Guinea. 1992 to 1998 -- U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, Boston: Immigration Inspector / Collateral duties: Intelligence Officer, Firearms Instructor / Temporary duty: New York, Miami, Daytona, Sanford, Nassau. 1990 -- Bachelor of Arts: Criminal Justice / Sociology Students will learn about employment opportunities in the federal government.
Thank You to all our Speakers