"Enjoy the randomness of the moments. You may think you are on the right path. Then, something will happen that proves you can be better." Zyanya Sanchez, a 2010 Ozarks graduate, took her own advice and is quickly climbing the ranks at CORODEP-Mexico, a company that provides products for the mining industry throughout Mexico.
Zyanya Sanchez, a 2010 Ozarks graduate, was back on campus as a guest speaker for the PBL-SIFE Distinguished Speaker Series. Sanchez is emplyed by CORODEP-Mexico, a company that provides products for the mining industry throughout Mexico.
Originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, Sanchez graduated from Ozarks with a marketing degree and wealth of volunteer and service experience. She returned to Ozarks in September as a guest speaker for the PBL-SIFE Distinguished Speaker Series.
After earning her degree from Ozarks and returning to Mexico, Sanchez began working as a producer for "Chihuahua Responsable," a non-profit television show that focuses on corporate responsibility and sustainable development in Chihuahua.
"We wanted people to know that there are corporations and businesses out there trying to make the community a better place," Sanchez said. While she thoroughly enjoyed her community work, Sanchez was anxious to begin her career.
"When I landed my job in the marketing department of an insurance conglomerate, I was happy to be doing more marketing work, but after a year I felt like I was stuck in the same position," she explained.
Never one to settle for less, Sanchez began searching for a new position with advancement opportunity. Eventually, she was called back for an interview with the purchasing department at CORODEP-Mexico.
"I knew they were looking for someone with international commerce and purchasing experience," she said. "I didn’t know anything about purchasing, but I thought I would just go for it. They told me during the interview that, out of all the applicants, I was the only one who didn’t have any experience. They wanted to know why they should hire me."
Fortunately, one of the things Sanchez learned at Ozarks was how to effectively market her own skills. "My response was, ‘If I can learn to produce a community television show, I can learn purchasing.’ "
Her employers must have agreed, because they offered her the position. Once she began working for CORODEP the company began to grow and Sanchez was taking on more and more responsibility.
"When the sales began to increase, they hired more staff for the purchasing operations department. After they saw the experience I had gained and how much the company had grown, they offered me a promotion," she said.
Sanchez is now the operations manager for the purchasing department at CORODEP-Mexico. The work is difficult, but she knows that she is utilizing her skills to the best of her ability.
"One of the things I learned at Ozarks was how to think ahead, and that is exactly what I have to do in my position," she said. "In the mining industry, everybody needs everything yesterday. At Ozarks, I learned to how to be efficient and how to make adjustments in order to ensure that everything gets accomplished. That kind of preparation is a huge asset."
Topics: Student Organizations