The World Trade Center Institute
Congratulates Laureate Education, Inc.’s Augusto Failde on his Recognition as a
Maryland International Business Leadership Award Winner
Baltimore, Maryland, March 22, 2006 – Augusto Failde, senior vice president, Global Business Development, for Laureate International Universities for Laureate Education, Inc. was recently selected as a recipient of Maryland's 2006 International Business Leadership Awards. The award is presented annually to individuals in Maryland who have led their companies to new global heights, demonstrating an entrepreneurial spirit, determination, creativity and the cultural sensitivity that global business demands.
Laureate International Universities, a division of Laureate Education, Inc., is the largest global network of accredited private postsecondary institutions. Its university network includes 24 accredited institutions across 51 campus locations and online in Asia, Europe and the Americas. Together, these institutions offer a broad range of undergraduate, graduate and vocational-technical programs, including business, law, education, communications, social sciences, health sciences, engineering, information technology, hospitality management, humanities and architecture. Headquartered in Baltimore, Laureate institutions are located in 15 countries and serve more than 217,400 students across the globe. In 2005, Laureate had revenues of $875.4 million.
Each institution offers students a uniquely local educational and cultural experience, and shares academic programs and student services with other member universities located throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas. This blend of a local perspective and an international vision equips students graduating from Laureate International Universities’ network institutions with the theory, practical knowledge and skills essential to success in an increasingly global work environment.
“The company’s strategy of fostering the local culture of the acquired universities while sharing the benefits of the programs and services of the worldwide Laureate organization has been a template for success,” stated Jim Doub, principal of Miles and Stockbridge, and a member of the WTCI Review Committee.
Augusto Failde has played a central role in helping the universities enter new business segments, such as the local working adult markets, and develop innovative academic program offerings for existing and prospective students. These programs support Laureate’s international education strategy to expand access. In addition to creating new programs and products, Failde has played a central role in helping each of the different universities share best practices and identify opportunities to leverage successful programs across the network.
One of Failde’s recent accomplishments was helping create study-abroad programs that leverage the Laureate International Network across a variety of disciplines in Europe and Latin America. From ocean ecology in Chile, to international business in Paris, Laureate’s international network provides abroad students with cultural experiences and memories that last a lifetime.
Here in the U.S., Failde worked with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) to create the HACU-Laureate International Scholarship Fund to increase access for Latino college students to study abroad. The program is one of the nation’s largest international scholarship programs dedicated to encouraging the participation of U.S. Hispanic students in study-abroad programs.
Failde was also instrumental in the creation of the Laureate Global Career Center – a proprietary career resource tool that includes more than 37,000 job postings for campus-based graduates. Laureate’s global coverage, local job market knowledge and local employer relationships create a proprietary competitive network advantage for the future of current students, as well as their alumni.
Central to his success in creating these programs is his ability to work with the right people in key roles, across U.S. and local country teams. He believes that distance is one of the main barriers to building good business relationships. Failde is continuously traveling to new destinations, noting that “handshakes and one-on-one time cannot be replaced by emails and cell phone calls.”
Failde, a Cuban-born American raised in East Los Angeles, earned an M.B.A. from Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration and a bachelor’s degree in international relations and economics from Stanford University. Prior to joining Laureate, he spent over 17 years in the venture capital, entertainment, cable and online education industries. Failde is also the author of one of the country’s first business self-help books for Latinos, Latino Success – Insights from 100 of America’s Most Powerful Latino Business Professionals, published by Simon & Schuster in English and Spanish. The process of putting together the book included interviewing successful Latino business leaders in a breadth of communities. “Follow your passion,” explains Failde, “is the lesson that most leaders expressed.”
Quotes about Augusto Failde:
Carrie A. McCabe, Chief Executive Officer, FRM (Research) LLC
“I met Augusto nearly 30 years ago on our first day as Freshmen at Stanford University. We were taking a freshman seminar called "ethical issues in international relations". Isn't that funny how reflective that is of the person he has become? He is one of the most honest and caring people I know, and he travels internationally for business and also personal frequently.
Augusto has always been a magnet for mobilizing people to get things done, both in his personal and business lives. I have watched this with awe and respect for many years.
Even with all of his accomplishments, Augusto has maintaining his outstanding character--he has the best heart of anyone I know.
Augusto's enthusiasm is infectious! The world would be a less happy and bright place if he was not here.”
Anne Gates, Executive Vice President & CFO, Disney Consumer Products (DCP)
“We met as high school kids almost 30 years ago as California Junior Statesmen. There among California's 'best and brightest' young teens, he was one of the most promising and one of the most engaing. His energy, creativity, and intellect combined with an engaging personality made him stand out among a highly gifted crowd. Not only did you think he would do well, you wanted him to do well. It pleases me so much to have seen him realize the promise he showed back then all the while retaining his fun engaging spirit.”
About WTCI:
Established in Baltimore in 1989 to help connect Maryland to the globe, today the World Trade Center Institute (WTCI) is the region’s premier private sector international business partner. Financed jointly by area businesses and the State of Maryland, WTCI operates as a non-profit membership organization.
More than 2,500 Maryland firms benefit from WTCI’s extensive global network, pragmatic international business programs and customized consulting. WTCI is a member of the World Trade Center Association, along with nearly 300 fellow World Trade Centers operating in major business cities around the world.
About the Event:
Date: Thursday, March 30, 2006
Time: 5:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Jim Rouse Visionary Center, a part of the American Visionary Arts Museum, 800 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD 21230
Refreshments/International Buffet/Latin Music Celebration
Cost: $100 WTCI members/$150 Non-members