Our KCP Tigers continue to shine throughout different sectors. In this opportunity, we want to highlight Ernesto Serrano, KCP Class of 2001, as Executive Vice President of the multinational Stibo Systems. Ernesto’s previous job experiences include being Regional Marketing Manager for Latin America at Manhattan Associates. Ernesto has a Bachelor’s Degree in Science, Industrial Engineering, from Virginia Tech, and an MBA from UNC Kenan – Flagler Business School. We had the chance to talk to Ernesto about his career and how being a part of KCP has impacted his life.
How has your KCP experience impacted your life and the choices you have made in your career?
KCP opened my eyes to the world. With its international approach to education, not only did KCP prepare me to live in a globalized world, but also encouraged me to push the boundaries of what I could and couldn’t do, while sparking a deep interest in the world both from a personal and professional perspective. That being said, despite its international appeal, KCP’s values have and will always be closely tied to Colombia, which is why I’ve always understood that we also have a social and civic duty to our country and our people. This is why I have been working in the global arena for over 20 years developing businesses for technology multinationals, yet doing so while building opportunities for Colombians and Latin Americans alike.
What advice would you give to KCP students who would like to follow a similar career path as yours?
Allow yourselves to be surprised, ALWAYS. When I graduated from KCP, and even after I graduated from College, never in my wildest dreams did I ever see myself working in the software industry. After 20+ years in the Technology space, in a career that already spans multiple countries, industries, and employers, I can definitely say that I’ve certainly not followed the path that I wrote for myself 21 years ago. I guess my advice to KCP students out there would be that plans change and it’s Ok if they do, nothing’s written in stone; don’t grow frustrated if things don’t go the way you’ve planned them, cherish these unexpected turns of events. It’s how you react to these that will shape your will and your character. Even more important, it’s Ok not to have a plan, whoever tells you that you should have your future figured out at 17 is lying to you; I’m almost 40 and I’m still figuring things out.
What makes you proud to be a member of the KCP family?
There’s not a month that goes by that I don’t think about all of the fantastic experiences and memories I lived while at KCP. It’s the experiences themselves that really shaped who I am as a person. As I reminisce, many feelings come to mind, yet one that stands above all is the importance of family, a strong community, of a cohesive society. I still remember it like it was yesterday, experiences like the School’s first-ever musical at our brand new Auditorium; Grease. At the time, it was a seriously complex and ambitious initiative; however, in true KCP fashion, it was a huge success and one that people still remember to this date. This project brought together the entire KCP population: faculty, staff, parents, and alumni, all working together as one towards one goal, one objective. KCP is more than the sum of its individuals, it’s a true community and one that I will cherish being a part of forever.
What makes you proud to be a member of the KCP family?
People always say that most of their dearest friends in life are those they went to College with. However, I can proudly say that even after many years after we graduated, after being apart for years at a time, my best friends in life are those I went to High School with. The KCP brand, its values, the faculty, its history, and of course the students represent such a strong and unbreakable bond that I’m always proud to share and represent. I wear the KCP colors with pride, not only because of the memories and its strong legacy but also because it’s the place where I’ve met friends even my son lovingly calls aunts and/or uncles.
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