Ximena Castanon - AIESEC BO endorsement letter

Cochabamba, June 20th 2013

To: FULBRIGHT COMISSION Present.Ref. Endorsement letter for the FULBRIGHT scholarship “A platform, just like a rock stadium, is the place where you go up to share with the people the best of you. Where the opportunities are translated to experiences and those are the ones that make a remarkable life. This is the place we call AIESEC.”

I would like to take an opportunity to offer a formal recommendation for Ximena Castañon. As the President of AIESEC in Bolivia I have known Ximena for approximately 4 years and feel that she is a deserving candidate for your prestigious scholarship program.

AIESEC has as priority to form leaders through international exchange that are going to be change agents and make a positive impact in their communities. We have alumni like Álvaro Uribe, expresident of Colombia. AIESEC has international partners as IE, Nike, Ingersol Rand, Microsoft, Price Water House Coopers, Tata Consultancy Services, Unilever, Vale, AlcatelLucent, Potencia Ventures, Cognizant, DHL, Electrolux, Ericson that support our activities in different ways.

Due the time I spend in AIESEC in Bolivia, I have met different people willing to make great things on this world and change our reality, Ximena is surely one of these people. Ximena joined our organization as an entry-level NGO Sales Team Member. Demonstrating an incredible initiative and a strong dedication, she moved up the ranks quickly. After only six months, she was promoted to team leader. The organization in La Paz could not help but notice how successful she was in her new position and quickly elected her another promotion, making her part of the executive board team of AIESEC in La Paz as the first Local Vicepresident of Communication.

As Local Vicepresident, she made marketing campaigns that raised the exchange numbers in 50% and empower the brand of AIESEC not only in La Paz but in the whole AIESEC network giving an international training session for the whole community of AIESEC in 113 territories.

Soon, she applied for another role as National Social Media Manager, where she organized and gave an extraordinary use of social media channels to promote the programs of leadership and exchange. All this experience and results supported her when she applied to be the National Vicepresident of External Relations and Communications, where she got the all the support from the asembly. As part of my national team, Ximena did an extraordinary job leading and organizing more than 80 people in 7 cities. Her team raised numbers in 100% in year term and got many alliances and partnerships with universities, organizations and enterprises to support events focused on leadership, entrepreneurship, intercultural and our social projects all over Bolivia.

Ximena leads by example and many people here find her enthusiasm and dedication both inspiring and motivating. As part of the national executive board team, Ximena has worked hard to build authentic relationships with the members of AIESEC. Her efforts have created a happier and more productive team.

I believe Ximena exhibits many of the qualities that are essential to study a graduate program abroad. An education at your esteemed program will help her hone these qualities, while enhancing her career opportunities. I highly recommend Ximena CastaĂąon for your program and hope that you will carefully consider admission application.

AIESECly

----------------------------------------------Pablo Cesar Espinoza Lafuente Member Committee President 2012-2013 AIESEC in Bolivia pablo.espinoza@aiesec.net