CAMPUS: Guest speaker visits TAMIU class

Juan Carlos Puente
Editor-in-chief
Published Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024

Through a recent guest speaker, communication students learned more about marketing and real-world communication examples, as well as life advice.

On Oct. 17, Texas A&M International University Associate Professor of communication Ju Oak “Jade” Kim, invited a guest speaker to present during her Communication Theory and Practice course.

The speaker was IBC Bank Senior Vice President of Corporate Marketing Gabriel Castillo, who visited TAMIU to speak about students’ futures. Castillo offered his life story to guide others in their careers.

“Beyond being a bank, we try to be a part of the solution to their future issues, problems and concerns,” Castillo said.

Castillo spoke of his own life experiences, including how he built communication and a network to reach where he is now. He adds that it is important to evaluate one’s future by analyzing their current situation. This means to analyze one’s life, education, experience and skills because all of those are essential for acquiring and maintaining a good job in the post-collegiate world.

“Many times, we think, ‘I’ll get trained or I’ll get help;’ that doesn’t always happen,” Castillo said. “Right now, people are trying to hire others [who] already know how to do it.”

He continued noting that many people don’t usually prepare to begin an entry-level job. He noted that a majority expect to land a solid, high-paying job fresh out of college.

As a word of advice, Castillo recommends students get a part-time, low-stakes job just for experience alone. Employers often seek people with experience in multiple fields.

“Explore all your options,” Castillo said. “Don’t pigeonhole yourself into one space. It happens many times when we have people working at the bank who started in nursing, teaching, accountants and lawyers … Many people move from one thing to another and it’s OK. You have to find what makes you happy.”

IBC usually brings different employers each month to speak to students and offer experiences that might help guide others.

Castillo succeeds Jorge Verduzco, who retired in late 2014 from a 33-year-long banking career.