We want to highlight Maria Fernanda Vasquez Zambrano, Class of 1997, on her role as Legal Vice President at Caribbean Resources Corp. (Formerly known as Pacific Coal) for the past 13 years. Maria Fernanda studied Law and has a master’s in International Business from Universidad del Norte and recently finished a Global Senior Management Program from IE Business School/Chicago Booth. We had the chance to reminisce about her time at KCP and how KCP impacted her life and career.
How has your KCP experience impacted your life and the choices you have made in your career?
With great honor, I have received the invitation to write about my career and personal experience for the Alumni Page. This made me think of my days at KCP and inevitably the word GRATEFUL comes to my mind. As fellow alumni, we were blessed of having an education that made us think beyond the wall of our society, city, and country, as well as encouraging us to pursue our dreams without a limit. At KCP, we gained so much knowledge and lived many experiences which definitely impacted my career. I will focus on the following five aspects that I consider and believe are the most relevant and have been the characteristics that have made me stand out and achieve my career goals.
Our KCP signature almost native English speaking and writing (Being able to speak, read and write English with proficiency has been one of the door openers for my career, a tool I use daily.)
Speaking in public in front of an audience. (Wow, that´s the reason why we had Creative Communication!) I remember we had to read tons of Spanish books and write essays, as well as learn how to read them out loud making eye contact with our audience.
Leadership. Even if we didn´t know it back then, we were taught to be leaders, not followers, and leave our mark everywhere we went.
Critical Thinking. School taught us teamwork, to analyze, evaluate and plan in order to make decisions and execute them out. Projects, projects, projects, sometimes we thought they were overwhelming and complicated, but they were just preparing us for real life.
Innovation and technology. Our school has always been a place that we were and are proud of, especially because
KCP has always been an Avant-guard institution when it comes to implementing technology in our day-to-day learning. How can we forget, our Burton Fox Library where we had the apple computers lab on the first floor, TV VCR, the CD- Room Computers, the computer labs, the transition to color screen computers and mouse, TI-82 with Math Book and the Internet connections which I think we’re one of the first in Barranquilla when I graduated, surely there are many more gadgets today.
Last but not least, the tenacity and fearless Tiger Spirit is tattooed forever in our hearts and will accompany us where ever we go.
What are some of your best memories or experiences from your time at KCP?
For me, the best memories and experiences at KCP were creating long-lasting friendships that still stand, and like sports, loved being able to participate in several Cartagena and Barranquilla Games as part of the softball and football team. Unfortunately, this year the memoirs of our Class 1997 have been clouded with deep sorrow, with the sudden departure of our fellow and beloved classmate 1997, Giovanna Martinez. Her spark, thrive and happiness will always stay in our hearts.
What makes you proud to be a member of the KCP Family?
Having the privilege of being part of the KCP family as an alumnus has been one of the most important experiences that I have had. KCP has unquestionably contributed to shaping me into the person I am today, as well as being decisive in accomplishing my personal and professional life achievements. It has always been important to know that as a Community we take care of each other and have our back, as a former alumnus told me, Once a Tiger always a Tiger!
