Emma Alvarez ’26: Building an International Career, One Madrid Internship at a Time

For Emma Alvarez ’26, Spanish wasn’t something she learned from a textbook–it was the soundtrack of her childhood. Growing up in Chico, California, with her father from Mexico and her mother a Spanish professor, Alvarez heard the language every day in her home. Learning Spanish as a second language, Alvarez cultivated a love for Spain at a young age. 

“I’ve always been a little bit obsessed with Spain because of that,” Alvarez admits. Today, as a senior majoring in international business with minors in Spanish and psychology, Emma’s childhood obsession has come full circle–and she’s had two internships in Madrid to prove it.

A First Taste of Professional Life Abroad

Alvarez’s decision to attend USD was heavily influenced by the Madrid Center. “It was part of the reason I chose USD,” she says. “I loved that they had an actual campus there.” 

In fall 2024, Alvarez attended USD’s study abroad program in Madrid, taking an internship as one of her classes. “We were able to come in and offer our perspective as students who were online a lot,” she says. “We did a webinar strategy and worked a little bit on their website.”

Beyond the professional experience, Madrid captured her heart. “I just fell in love with the city,” she says. When she returned to San Diego, “I was like, I need to find a way to go back as soon as possible.”

Returning to Madrid: A Deeper Immersion

Researching summer internships abroad, Alvarez found the Intern Group, a program specializing in international internship placements. After applying and completing several interviews, Alvarez secured a six-week internship at a PR firm in Madrid for summer 2025.

Unlike the previous internship conducted in English, this one was in Spanish. “I grew up speaking Spanish as a second language, and I’ve taken Spanish classes at USD–but this was my first time using the language professionally,” Alvarez says. “And it was awesome.”

As part of the internal culture, DEI and sustainability team, Alvarez analyzed the firm’s service offerings and culture against its top competitors in Spain, Europe and the U.S. What was her most challenging professional moment? “I did a one-hour executive presentation to my boss–all in Spanish–which was very difficult!”

Alvarez reflects that both internships allowed her to grow professionally and personally. “There’s a lot to be said for being thrown into a situation where you’re like, how can I observe the people around me? How do they hold themselves in the workplace?” she says. “It’s definitely going to help me when I enter the workforce.”

The USD Foundation

Alvarez attributes her internship successes to her hard work and leadership at USD’s Knauss School of Business–particularly through her roles as president of both the Student International Business Council (SIBC) and the International Business Club.

SIBC prepared Alvarez with project-based work, client presentations and marketing fundamentals. “Being able to stand up and do a one-hour presentation in front of my team is something that SIBC taught me.”

Through the International Business Club, Alvarez completed three different consulting projects for companies in France, Canada and the U.S., guided by Eileen Daspro, director of the Ahlers Center for International Business and clinical professor of international business. “She’s a big part of my experience,” Alvarez says. “For most people, myself included, this was their first experience doing anything with consulting.”

Alvarez credits another person with supporting her journey: Gelsey Baez, a business career services manager at Knauss. “She helped me find my internship the second time, and supported me through that,” Alvarez shares. “She’s just incredible.” Together with Dr. Daspro, “I literally owe all of this to them.” 

Growth Beyond Skills

Surprisingly, Alvarez came to USD as a psychology major, intending to become a therapist. After joining SIBC, “I changed to an international business major because I was like, wait, I love this,” she says. “My eyes have been totally opened to all of the possibilities that exist. We live in such a global world now.”

As Alvarez approaches graduation this spring, she’s seeking jobs or summer internships. “My hope is actually to work for a few years and then go back to get an MBA abroad,” Alvarez says. The destination? Madrid, naturally. “That would be the dream!” Her parents, watching their daughter discover her passion, have embraced her journey. “I think they’re like, Emma found her path. They see that this lights me up.”

Coming Full Circle

Alvarez’s journey embodies the full circle that international education can create. “I’m lucky that I’ve gotten all of those experiences because I think that a lot of people don’t get to have that until much later in life,” Alvarez reflects. 

As she prepares to graduate, Alvarez reflects on how far she’s come. “I’ve gotten more international experience than I ever imagined through USD,” she says. She carries with her not just skills and experiences, but the confidence that comes from having already proven herself across languages, cultures and continents. 

— Katie Payne