By Dave DeFusco
Laura Camargo’s journey—from Bogotá, Colombia, to Brooklyn, N.Y.—is shaped by a deep belief in the power of education, exposure and community. Today, as an MBA candidate in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»â€™s Sy Syms School of Business, she is using her marketing expertise not only to advance her own career, but to uplift others through her volunteer work with Women of ALPFA New York, part of the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA).
ALPFA is a global organization dedicated to fostering professional growth, leadership development and career opportunities within the Latino community. As a member of Women of ALPFA’s marketing and communications team, Camargo plays a hands-on role in amplifying that mission. She helps write, design and manage newsletters, supports campaign execution and creates the materials needed to promote events that connect Latino professionals with mentors, employers and networks that can change the trajectory of their lives.
“I volunteer because it’s a great opportunity to open doors for those who didn’t have the same opportunities I had,†said Camargo, whose sister Nathaly is a 2024 graduate of the Katz School’s M.S. in Digital Marketing and Media. “They can pursue paths that they did not imagine. I love to empower people and show them that they can do it and, in turn, and give back to others when they have a chance.â€
Born and raised in Bogotá, Camargo grew up in a highly educated household, a background that shaped how she understood opportunity early on. When she moved to the United States in 2016 at the age of 25, she arrived with strong professional experience in public relations and communications, but she was also eager for something more. New York offered a kind of diversity and cultural exchange she had never experienced before—one that changed her perspective on class, mobility and access.
“In Colombia, society can feel very divided,†she said. “Here, I saw people who didn’t have formal education still finding ways to support their families and help their children go to school. I saw stories of parents working blue-collar jobs so their kids could become professionals. That’s powerful.â€
Through ALPFA events, Camargo witnessed firsthand how exposure can transform ambition. She saw students and early-career professionals, many of them first-generation college students, walk into rooms at firms like Morgan Stanley or BlackRock and begin to see themselves in roles they had never imagined. For her, that visibility is essential.
“When young people can talk to someone who looks like them and hear, ‘I work at JPMorgan’ or ‘I’m a director,’ it changes what they believe is possible,†she said. “Education opens that door. It’s not just about getting a degree, it’s about understanding how the system works and knowing you belong in those spaces.â€
Camargo’s own career path has been shaped by a willingness to pivot and grow. Before pursuing her MBA, she worked in product development, sourcing and operations at brands including Aerosoles, Amerex Group and Soludos. In those roles, she contributed to product launches, sourcing strategies and sales support, helping streamline workflows, improve timelines and reduce costs. She developed a reputation for strong cross-functional collaboration and client and stakeholder management, skills she now brings into her academic work and volunteer leadership.
Her decision to pursue an MBA in the Sy Syms School of Business grew out of a desire for strategic clarity and long-term impact. At Sy Syms, Camargo has strengthened her leadership skills, particularly in emotional intelligence, communication and influence. Courses in marketing and strategy have sharpened how she thinks about motivating people, framing ideas and driving change—lessons she applies directly to her work with Women of ALPFA.
She has also noticed how confidence or the lack of it can shape outcomes, especially among young Latino professionals. Through ALPFA, Camargo often encourages students to advocate for themselves, refine their resumes and approach opportunities with assurance. Seeing those efforts pay off is one of the most rewarding parts of her service.
“When someone comes back and says, ‘I got the internship,’ or ‘I got the job,’ it’s incredible,†she said. “You realize that a conversation, some guidance or encouragement can truly change a life.â€
Beyond her professional and academic pursuits, Camargo’s lifelong dedication to ballet as a dancer and instructor has instilled discipline, creativity and perseverance. Those qualities define her leadership style and her approach to service: focused, empathetic and resilient.
“I truly believe that responsibility, leadership and service are not just values we talk about at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»; they’re values we live,†said Camargo. “If I can use my skills and experiences to help open doors for others, then that’s real success. The most meaningful achievements are the ones you share and pass forward.â€
