Hispanic Business Student Association marks half a century of influence and growth

When Michelle Macias, a native of Yuma, Arizona, became an entrepreneurship and business management student at Arizona State University in 2020, she lived three hours away from home during the COVID-19 lockdown. , was locked in a dorm room.

So she searched for Latinx and Spanish communities on Sun Devil Sync.

“I wanted to find my place,” Macias says. “I was very confused at first.”

The Spanish Business Student Association (HBSA) appeared in the search results.

Macias participated in the association's Zoom meeting. In the four years since then, she has become even more involved, serving on the Annual Banquet and Awards Committee to familiarize herself with the HBSA, and then becoming the Outreach Coordinator and a member of the 14-member He served as vice president of operations on the association's executive committee.

Macias, who currently serves as HBSA president, is scheduled to graduate in a few weeks.

But first, on April 17, she celebrated with her HBSA “family” at the organization's 50th Anniversary Banquet and Awards Ceremony at the PERA Club Pavilion in Tempe.

Over the past 50 years, since starting the Chicano Business Students Association in 1974 (which became the Hispanic Business Students Association in 1979), this student-led organization has developed its members into future leaders and We have served our communities, promoted diversity, and created progressive learning. environment.

Macias believes the association has given him the opportunity to become a leader, grow as a person and network.

“As members, we meet everywhere,” she says. “It’s not just recognizing faces. It’s real interaction, asking about each other’s day and helping each other out. We lean on each other when members are in trouble, like when their car breaks down.” Masu.

“We built a home away from home. This is especially meaningful for those of us who are far from our families. It gives us a sense of belonging and We provide reliable support. It's the extensive community here in Phoenix.”

Louis Olivas, aka Dr. O., professor emeritus of business administration, said HBSA has mentored hundreds of members over the decades and helped them begin their careers in business. He has been the Society's academic advisor since 1979, a tenure that spans his 45 years.

Olivas launched HBSA and hired Nelda Garcia, a senior faculty member who worked in what was then called the School of Management Services and later renamed the School of Business Administration, to be his co-adviser during his first semester of classes. I believe this is his accomplishment. Garcia was the first Latina woman to attend ASU Business School in 1972.

Olivas said there were very few Hispanic business students at the time.

It has changed over the decades. As of fall 2023, the WP Carey School of Business has 4,521 Hispanic and Latino students, representing 21.5% of the business school's 21,008 students.

Annette Cárdenas, an international student from Bolivia studying finance and business data analysis, joined HBSA as a sophomore in 2021. This was also the first time she stepped foot on campus after the lockdown.

Cárdenas rose through the ranks through HBSA as a member of the finance committee, serving as director of IT, vice president of finance, and president before passing the baton to Macias in January.

“What I like most about being at HBSA is the team environment where we can support a big club,” Cardenas says. “There's a lot of responsibility involved.”

Organizational skills are one of the many skills that association members learn. HBSA also teaches resume writing and interview preparation. Workshops with local companies provide insight into internships and a deeper understanding of company strategies, goals, and culture, while general meetings and networking events allow members to interact with alumni, community partners, and corporate sponsors. Create a platform for

The association's commitment to social impact is reflected in its community outreach efforts, including an annual fundraiser supporting immigrant youth refugees and a variety of community service projects.

Further enriching the HBSA experience is a special speaker series in which successful Latinx leaders share their success stories.

Cárdenas said board members are expected to attend at least 80% of HBSA's events. Considering the large number of board members, 70 in the last semester, board members need to be actively aware of upcoming activities and coordinate tasks by communicating with relevant partners within the association.

“I always tell people that the ultimate goal of the HBSA is to serve on the board,” says Noah Patch, a Phoenix native and outreach coordinator for the association. “That's your resume building. In addition to resume building, professional self-leadership development, and connecting with different organizations, I have these friends, this family.”

Patch, a third-year business communications student, was introduced to HBSA by a friend who invited her to an event. He will join the company in fall 2022 and immediately become executive assistant.

Like Patch, second-year business communications major Andrea Quijada didn't hesitate to join after joining HBSA last spring. She first served on the Community Relations Committee and then she served as Community Relations Director. She is also involved in HBSA committees this semester, including Banquet and Family Fun Day.

“This is a club that aims to unlock your potential, a place of growth and opportunity,” Kihada says. “If you put in the effort, you can grow, whether it’s on the committee or the executive committee.”

Using HBSA as a springboard for growth and opportunity, Alejandra López draws on her first-generation indigenous roots, with her family originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

“I'm very proud of where my family comes from. I love the culture,” says the interdisciplinary studies student with a concentration in business and communications.

Since the first semester of 2020, Lopez has held four positions on the HBSA Executive Committee, including Executive Assistant, Activities Director, Vice President of Marketing, and Vice President of Operations. She is aiming to become president in the fall.

Lopez credits Dr. O for keeping her in check during her coaching meetings.

“He was a meticulous and detail-oriented person, and those traits taught me the importance of soft skills like follow-up and attention to detail in business,” Lopez explains. “I forgot to print a document for him for a meeting. and made it clear how important it is to be professional.”

michael garcia, in Purchasing/Logistics Management '92 and is a former HBSA member and first-year Indiana native, he serves on the association's Board of Directors and general membership, sharing his experience in sales, supply chain, and recruiting. We are giving advice.

“I help them with resume writing, interviews, and career advice,” Garcia says. “My goal is to be a go-to person for my students. I moved here from out of state, so I understand how many students feel when they move here from out of town. So we want them to feel like there's someone they can turn to for advice and support. ”

Garcia said that at the time he was with the association, HBSA consisted of about 30 to 50 members. The current number of members is 114. HBSA reaches its audience through multiple channels including its website, social channels, and weekly email newsletter, which has over 2,000 subscribers.

“When I attend an event and meet former students, it fills me with an incredibly warm feeling inside,” says Olivas. “I always want to hear what they're doing and what situation they're in in life. Some have become grandparents, some are raising families, some are CEOs. Some have gone on to become entrepreneurs or started small businesses. It's very rewarding to see the path they've taken.

“I try to ask them, 'What else have you accomplished since we last spoke? Are you pursuing a master's degree? What books are you reading right now? Toastmasters International Did you participate? If not, why not?’ I ask how they self-improve and what they are working on, but I still want to hear their best I’m a critic.”

HBSA requires no commitment or membership for first-time participants. This meeting is free to all majors, and interested students do not need to be Hispanic or speak Spanish.

“We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organization without the typical barriers that prevent students from joining a student club,” Cardenas says.