Alessandra Abusada
Lima
Summary
Fifteen years of experience in entrepreneurship, business development, management and human resources; Demonstrated expertise in forging key relationships with diverse stakeholders; Rich and extensive real-life negotiating experience with customers, suppliers, unions and banks, and in mediation of disputes; Superior inter personal skills, flexible to work in different environments and across cultures, and capable of resolving multiple and overlapping issues.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Co-Founder
Curiously Global / Curios
Peru
09.2019 - Current
- Started an educational tourism business that had to pause due to Covid.
- Since September 2022 working on developing Peruvian cultural experiences with www.curios.place.
- Started an educational tourism business that had to pause due to Covid; Since September 2022 working on developing Peruvian cultural experiences with www.curios.place.
Program co-leader
Westmont College
Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Egypt
01.2017 - 04.2019
- Successfully co-led Westmont College spring semester study abroad program for 25 students in both 2017 and 2019; curricular focus on history, political science, the Israeli-Palestine conflict, Arabic, Judaism and Islam, and provided cultural and historical orientation to the students and helped students reject simplistic and binary interpretations of the conflict.
- Coordinated and conducted dialogues with Israelis and Palestinians representing a wide range of perspectives on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict; academics, activists, refugees, settlers, religious authorities, representatives of international organizations, etc.
- Performed administrative tasks, such as program’s planning, logistics and budget.
- Tutored the students in Arabic: teaching the Arabic verb system, listening comprehension and speaking competence.
- Successfully co-led Westmont College spring semester study abroad program for 25 students in both 2017 and 2019; curricular focus on history, political science, the Israeli-Palestine conflict, Arabic, Judaism and Islam.
Business consultant
La Buena Esperanza Association
Peru
07.2017 - 12.2018
- Consulted the organisation in business opportunities and increased its income by improving enrollment and seeking a more diversified donor base.
- Drafted and proposed business strategies in order to make its school financially sustainable.
- Participated in the fundraising efforts, preparing campaigns and setting meetings with possible donors among them private companies, individuals and government agencies.
- Facilitated effective business planning meetings.
- Consulted the organisation in business opportunities and increased its income by improving enrollment and seeking a more diversified donor base.
Founder and CEO
Tareek Tours
Occupied Palestinian Territory
01.2011 - 09.2015
- Started an incoming tour operator targeting Latin America and the Palestinian diasporas especially in Central and South America.
- The tours were a hybrid between visiting religious sites and learning about the conflict.
- Created tour offerings, and prepared marketing materials.
- Financed and participated in the production of TV shows to promote Palestine in Peru and Chile; a major achievement was bringing and hosting a TV crew from Mundo Ad Portas Chilean program that promoted Palestine as a tourist destination.
- Coordinated and hosted different groups of people from various countries and cultures, among them an Ecumenical Christian Leaders and a group of African American social leaders.
- Started an incoming tour operator targeting Latin America and the Palestinian diasporas especially in Central and South America.
General Manager, Garment Division
Hialpesa
Lima
11.2007 - 07.2010
- Managed overall aspects of garment manufacturing in a large organization comprised of 2,200 employees.
- Engaged in key general management duties including operations and administration, as well as strategic planning, production and sales.
- Liaised with several banks to expand and secure lines of credit.
- Oversaw the reorganization of the human resources department of the company.
- Set the chart and filled key positions for the newly merged company.
- Implemented a just-in-time production strategy to run the new company as a fully vertically integrated operation.
- Reorganized the product development and commercial areas to meet customers’ changing needs and demands.
- Continued to oversee the growth of garment manufacturing sales to $38MM by 2010.
- Managed overall aspects of garment manufacturing in a large organization comprised of 2,200 employees.
Founder and CEO
Cotton Bel
Lima
04.1997 - 11.2007
- Founded and managed a garment manufacturing and export company which grew to incorporate 1,500 employees.
- Handled all aspects of business, including operations, commercial, production, human resources and administration.
- Oversaw the growth of the business from 50 employees with sales of $600,000 in 1997 to 1,500 employees and $25 million exports to USA and Europe in 2007.
- Tapped into the organic cotton market in 2002, eventually becoming Peru’s largest exporter of organic cotton garments.
- Developed three socially responsible programs: a) Created an in-house daycare, 'Wawawasi Virgen de Fatima,' in 2004 to service the children of company employees that served 55 children per year b) Established a scholarship program that benefitted 25 young people and c) initiated a revolving micro-loan program.
- In 2007, planned and conducted a merger with the company’s main textile mill supplier.
- Founded and managed a garment manufacturing and export company which grew to incorporate 1,500 employees.
Education
Master of Arts - Conflict Research, Management and Resolution
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Israel01.2015
Graduate visiting student - Advanced Modern Standard Arabic, Hebrew Ulpan-programs
Rothberg International School, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Israel01.2013
Master’s - Business Administration
J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University
Evanston, IL, USA01.2000
B.A. - Economics
Universidad del Pacífico
Lima, Peru01.1996
Skills
- Business development
- Problem-solving
- Entrepreneurial leadership
- Market analysis
- Educational tourism
- Cross-cultural communication
Personal Information
- Date of Birth: 11/05/74
- Nationality: Peruvian
First Names
Alessandra
Key Qualifications
- Fifteen years of experience in entrepreneurship, business development, management and human resources
- Demonstrated expertise in forging key relationships with diverse stakeholders
- Rich and extensive real-life negotiating experience with customers, suppliers, unions and banks, and in mediation of disputes
- Superior interpersonal skills, flexible to work in different environments and across cultures, and capable of resolving multiple and overlapping issues
- Ten years of active learning, researching, teaching and promoting dialogue around the Palestine – Israel conflict
Languages
Spanish
First Language
English
Proficient (C2)
C2
French
Advanced (C1)
C1
Italian
Advanced (C1)
C1
Arabic
Advanced (C1)
C1
Hebrew
Advanced (C1)
C1
German
Upper Intermediate (B2)
B2
Quechua
Intermediate (B1)
B1
Chinese (Mandarin)
Intermediate (B1)
B1
Timeline
Co-Founder
Curiously Global / Curios
09.2019 - Current
Business consultant
La Buena Esperanza Association
07.2017 - 12.2018
Program co-leader
Westmont College
01.2017 - 04.2019
Founder and CEO
Tareek Tours
01.2011 - 09.2015
General Manager, Garment Division
Hialpesa
11.2007 - 07.2010
Founder and CEO
Cotton Bel
04.1997 - 11.2007
Master of Arts - Conflict Research, Management and Resolution
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Graduate visiting student - Advanced Modern Standard Arabic, Hebrew Ulpan-programs
Rothberg International School, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Master’s - Business Administration
J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University
B.A. - Economics
Universidad del Pacífico