San Antonio Students Receive Career and Financial Guidance in Talks by the CSAV Foundation
With the aim of providing key tools for personal and professional growth, the Compañía Sud Americana de Vapores (CSAV) Foundation organized a series of talks for nearly 500 students from the Instituto Comercial Marítimo Pacífico Sur, Liceo Juan Dante Parraguez Arellano, and Liceo Poeta Vicente Huidobro, all located in the commune of San Antonio.
San Antonio, Wednesday, June 11 |
The sessions addressed fundamental questions about how to plan for a professional future, opportunities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers, and how to effectively manage personal finances.
The series featured prominent experts: Barbarita Lara, a social entrepreneur and computer science engineer, and Javiera Quiroga, a journalist and influential personal finance specialist. Over two sessions, the students were able to acquire knowledge and practical advice from these professionals, becoming aware of the importance of early education in these crucial subjects for their development.
In her talk titled “Hack Yourself: Life as Your Greatest Venture,” Barbarita Lara shared her inspiring professional journey, analyzed the challenges and opportunities in education and the job market in STEM fields, and stressed the importance of female inclusion in these areas. Additionally, she offered valuable tips for transforming ideas and plans into concrete projects with impact and added value.
“It is very positive that the CSAV Foundation holds these types of events to connect more directly with young people, showing them that there is talent in the region and that often we don’t see the opportunities or we simply have to create them ourselves. New technologies empower us and make it possible to get ahead regardless of socioeconomic reality.”
Afterwards, Javiera Quiroga presented the talk “Financial Well-being,” where she delved into the importance of developing an awareness and control over income from an early age. She explained how various financial instruments work and shared strategies for identifying and seizing opportunities to increase personal capital responsibly.
“Thanks to the CSAV Foundation, as well as other companies and organizations that allow financial education to reach those who need it at an early age, which is the only time when you can really make a substantial difference in people’s lives. Because after 18, when retail companies approach young people with the possibility of using financial products without understanding how they work and the consequences their use can have in the future, it is already too late,” noted Quiroga.
María Elena Palma, Director of the CSAV Foundation, highlighted the relevance of this initiative and stated: “We have observed a growing interest in the younger generations to understand fundamental aspects of adult life. We consider it crucial to guide and empower students, providing them with key tools so they can face the future with greater knowledge and make more informed and strategic decisions.”