A Brownsville student organization paves the way for vaqueros to join the business world

BROWNSVILLE – In mid-February, the International Business and Entrepreneurship Student Association held its first meeting of the semester where students discussed the ins and outs of the business world.

The International Business and Entrepreneurship Student Association is an organization started in 2023 based on the Brownsville campus, seeking to help students join the global marketspace after college.

Ervey Gonzales, IBESA president, said the group provides members the opportunity to learn skills and insights from within the industry.

“We saw an opportunity to connect the industry with the university student population in terms of taking students out to the companies, getting towards the facilities, getting workshops from people from the industry, networking events, going to conferences,” Gonzales said.

IBESA has been successful in collaborating with several organizations from the Rio Grande Valley including Vantage bank, the City of Brownsville and the consulate of Mexico.

The organization also brings guest speakers to share knowledge and experiences with the Brownsville student community, such as, last semester’s founder and owner of Palenque Group Francisco Ochoa, and founder and CEO of Four Loko Mexico Roberto lee in 2023.

Daniela Celaya, IBESA vice president of operations, shared what events the group will be hosting this semester.

“We do have [International Women’s Week] which will be during the first week of March” Celaya said. “And we are also planning to do a workshop to [Customs and Border Protection], and probably a workshop [on] SpaceX. And also, another event called Vackar Talk.”

For more information visit IBESA’s Instagram @ibesa.utrgv