Sandoval ’19 Making Difference in Guatemala

University of the Ozarks alumna Brenda Gabriela Sandoval '19 is another notable example of a Walton International Scholar who is using her Ozarks education to make a difference in her home country.

Sandoval, from Guatemala City, earned a B.A. degree in international business and history with Summa Cum Laude honors from Ozarks in 2019. Returning to Guatemala following graduation, Sandoval is working for The Focus Group, a company based in St. Augustine, Fla., that supports faith-based nonprofit organizations in areas of strategic planning, capital campaigns and feasibility studies. The company recently opened its first office in Antigua, Guatemala, where Sandoval works as a project assistant.

"I love what I do because I feel like I'm helping support non-profits do the good work that they're meant to do," said Sandoval.

Following graduation from Ozarks, Sandoval first landed a job as a logistics coordinator for Latin America at a global apparel brand before being hired away by Prialto, a company that provides virtual administrative support for busy professionals and enterprise teams. She quickly worked her way up the ranks at Prialto, eventually managing a team of 35 employees. But despite her success at the company, her heart was pulling her in a different direction and she joined The Focus Group in February of this year.

"My goal is to one day run my own non-profit that helps and supports children in Guatemala and this job aligns with my long-term goals," Sandoval said, "I believe this job will help me one day have my own nonprofit helping children in my country. I was extremely blessed to have had the opportunity to study at Ozarks and get a great opportunity. I want to help other children from my country have an opportunity for an education."

Sandoval credits her Ozarks education for helping her succeed in working for companies and organizations that have an international reach.

"I couldn't have asked for a better experience as far as being around such diverse classmates and professors," she said. "It forced me to adapt to different cultures and different people and made me more open to these types of experiences. That has definitely helped me in my positions where I work with people from various countries around the world."

Sandoval, who recently earned a master's degree in international business and strategic management from a university in Spain, has also discovered that her history degree from Ozarks has been beneficial in her career.

The writing and analytics that I did in my history classes really have paid off in my career," she said. "I think being a history major and understanding the backgrounds and history of different people and different countries has made me a more empathetic person when dealing with clients and business partners."

Topics: Alumni Stories