Alejandro Sanoja's Linkedin Analytics

Being an immigrant and introvert in a country that values extroversion as one of the top professional traits is like playing a video game in “hard mode.” When I moved to the US to attend an MBA program, it wasn’t because I had always planned to attend graduate school. I was a below-average student for most of my life. And I certainly did not fit the mold of what America would define as a good professional. I attended graduate school as a path to escape a dictatorship regime. Venezuela was, and still is, going through some of the worst socioeconomic challenges our continent has ever seen. Inflation levels of one million percent GDP drops by more than 30% in one year A refugee crisis with more than 20% of the population leaving the country I had no choice but to move forward because returning to Venezuela was not an option. On top of that, if I failed and had to go back, my mother was waiting for me with a chancla in her hand. So I had to make it happen. During the very first week of the MBA program, I learned that hard skills and good grades are not enough. We must have soft skills. Basically, you have to become an extrovert if you want to succeed in America as a professional. I started reading and learning about networking, public speaking, and influence as much as possible. The critical difference between what most immigrants and introverts do and what I did was putting that knowledge into action. I did everything possible to learn these so-called “soft skills.” And it worked. I graduated at the top of my class as the Outstanding MBA Student. But I was exhausted. There had to be a better way to have a successful career without depleting ourselves by playing by the extroverts’ rules. David was able to beat Goliath because he used a slingshot. The story would have been different if he had engaged in hand-to-hand combat. The personal brand I built during those years in business school has helped me attract opportunities such as being invited to speak at events conducted by some of the most prestigious organizations and institutions in the United States of America, such as the Texas Lyceum and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. And this happened because I realized that we can level the playing field with content. We can get the recognition we deserve as professionals without wearing an extrovert mask. And that’s exactly what I want to help you accomplish. To help you confidently communicate your value and expertise so that you can start attracting the professional opportunities that will boost your career.