In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we caught up with Ana M. Guevara, BA ’85, co-chair of GW’s International Women of Elliott.
GW: Tell us about what you are doing now and why it matters to you?
AG: I am passionate about executing strategies that lead to more efficient, prosperous enterprises by integrating business, public policy, and socially responsible initiatives that create shared value for all stakeholders. In 2009, I started a global management consulting business where I could leverage my global network and use my experience in government policy, international business, global supply chains, economic development, and good governance. I love this work because it gives me flexibility and opportunity to get involved in very diverse projects that all have one thing in common: helping communities that need it most. It lets me be a creative collaborator, connecting dots, people and talents. I get to build strategic alliances to catalyze change and drive organizational goals, fostering prosperity in communities across the globe. Some examples where I’ve made an impact:
- A project in Asia to bring advanced technologies to airports, enabling better economic connections between small islands and isolated towns.
- A project in the Caribbean to help airports be more resilient to natural disasters, speeding up aid and trade in the islands.
- A project to connect women-owned enterprises in Latin America to qualified corporate buyers and their supply chains, empowering women to create inclusive prosperity.
GW: Why is the International Women of Elliott (I/WE) important to you?
AG: I was thrilled when the Elliott School reached out to me to become a founding member of the I/WE network. As a former board member of The World Bank Group, vice president of two Fortune 50 companies, and a senior U.S. government official, I have been in many strategy meetings and international negotiations. One thing that has stood out is how few women were in the room with me. Women make up 50 percent of the world’s population, but we are not where decisions are being made. Women need to participate fully in society and global affairs. I/WE raises that awareness and champions Elliott students to ensure those who choose to lead have the resources and tools to do so. This is a very important initiative to get women toward greater participation in careers that can positively affect the world and local communities. Being involved in I/WE has also given me an opportunity to network with amazing women who are alumni and friends of the Elliott School.
GW: What drew you to GW and the Elliott School for college?
AG: When my mother was a teenager in Colombia, her mother sent her to study in Virginia and New York. My mother wanted me to have a similar experience and sent me to “finishing school” in Switzerland and then to study at La Sorbonne in Paris. While in Europe, I gained a real curiosity for international affairs and how culture and geography affected the state of the world. I would read a lot of the political magazines and kept seeing professors from the George Washington University being quoted. I did some research on the school and loved the idea of living in the center of Washington, D.C., close to all the organizations that I was reading about. Another thing that attracted me was that the school had such a large international student community. In those days, the Elliott School was called the School for Public and International Affairs, and I knew that would be the next chapter in my life.
GW: Are there particular classes and professors who stand out in your mind? Who helped you on your career path?
AG: My academic concentration at the Elliott School was economics. It was not an easy subject for me, and I had to work hard to fully understand the concepts. Yet, it gave me a strong and essential base for the negotiations I became involved with, including free trade agreements, international aviation rights, global economic development initiatives, and with the World Trade Organization (WTO).
“East Asia Past and Present” was amazing and opened my curiosity with the region and ancient cultures. Armed with just enough knowledge “to be dangerous,” I have been able to grow my expertise and work on projects in Japan, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia, and with the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
I am grateful to Professor Cynthia McClintock who helped me understand the cultural and political intricacies in my native country of Colombia and throughout Latin America. It was a great help when I was charged by an employer with setting up aviation rights and domestic operations across the continent. An impactful lesson that I learned from her was that “subsidizing farmers growing potatoes” was not an effective or lasting solution to poverty. As such, my work in economic development has always focused on the private sector and providing lasting self-reliant solutions.
GW: What would you say to current GW and Elliott School students who want to make a positive difference in the world?
AG: Don’t be an independent hero. Build teams and strategic alliances to catalyze change and drive goals. Acquire strong knowledge and technical skills as a base. Cultivate your leadership, negotiation and networking skills. Start building your networks now, by reaching out to organizations that you would want to work with, to participate in internships, and get information for your research papers. You may feel like you are an expert, but as one of my mentors said, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” Be open to learning, proving yourself, and working your way up.
A lesson learned from my days as a coxswain on GW’s crew team is to lead by example, always doing your best and encouraging and coaching others to do the same. In your endeavors, empower your team to unlock creative solutions and challenge the status quo to drive ideas and goals. Be the leader with a solution, not just the person identifying the problems. As my mentor would tell us, “Don’t think what it is, think what you could make it be.” Create a vision and make it reality through executing innovative strategies and impactful implementation with goals and measurements. Remember that what gets measured gets done. Focus on integrity and inclusivity, and strive for excellence.
Most importantly, enjoy your time at GW and the Elliott School, make wonderful memories, and build lifelong friendships. Now go Catch the Vision!