Carlos Jarquin (Alumnus)

A native of Mexico City and a world traveler, Carlos Jarquin ’13 considers himself a global citizen—a strong attribute in his newly appointed position as the president and CEO of the Free Trade Alliance San Antonio.

Jarquin immigrated to El Paso with his family when he was in elementary school and later moved to San Antonio to pursue higher education. In college, he had the urge to continue exploring the world and pounced on an opportunity to study abroad in Paris. While in Europe, he ventured to Spain, Germany and Switzerland in a quest for cultural exploration and a better understanding of international business.

“I travel to expand my mind and wander outside of the U.S. boundaries,” says Jarquin. “It’s important to have those experiences and not hold back.”

Jarquin uses his global experiences and education to steer the Alliance in the right direction in international trade. Fundamentally, the Alliance works to accelerate the development of international business and trade by aiding local companies to explore international markets and foreign companies to establish operations in San Antonio. Jarquin believes increasing international trade in the Alamo City is a win-win scenario.

“It benefits everyone…from suppliers to buyers to logistic providers,” he says. “It’s an economic multiplier for all.”

Taking the helm of the Alliance is a huge accomplishment in Jarquin’s career—one that was a decade in the making. After starting as a part-time intern, Jarquin steadily rose through the ranks at the Alliance. He was hired full-time in 2009 as an international trade specialist and was later promoted to vice president of Exports and Foreign Investment before becoming CEO. His gradual climb was no small feat, and he attributes his success to his unwavering dedication and his education.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in international business in 2008, Jarquin pursued an MBA. After looking at several programs, he found the perfect fit in Texas A&M University-San Antonio’s College of Business. He was drawn to the family feel on campus and appreciated the student focus from faculty and staff.

For those considering pursuing an MBA at A&M-SA, Jarquin says, “Don’t take the degree and program for granted. It’s not just a piece of paper or a certificate. It’s a powerful tool that will help students and graduates navigate their professional success.”

Jarquin attributes his time at A&M-SA to giving him a new perspective on the inner-workings of an organization.

“The university opened my eyes so that I now look at all business units of my organization and how it works from within. If it all works seamlessly and is synchronized, you’re bound to have success,” he says. “I’ve very thankful to the university for providing me that insight.”

Jarquin is the first millennial to hold the position of president and CEO at Free Trade Alliance San Antonio. He took office in October 2017.