A master's degree in Tilburg opened doors for Cynthia Gabriela Diaz Quevedo

Cynthia did extensive research on the right place to study: “When I did my research in terms of academic offerings, scholarships, and countries where I could do my master studies, I came across Tilburg University. I was instantly interested in the International Business Law program, since I thought I would be able to apply this knowledge once I returned home and build a corporate law profile for myself.

I think choosing Tilburg University was one of the best choices of my life, since I had outstanding lecturers, the opportunity of sharing the classroom with students with different backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs. This choice gave me clarity on what I really love about my career which is focusing on entrepreneurship, innovation, education, and ethical legal advice.”

Cynthia during her time in the Netherlands.

Change in mindset

Cynthia travelled far to become a student and it hit her when she was on the plane from Bolivia to Tilburg: “There was no more Spanish anywhere I went. There was English, Dutch, German, French, and other languages that I had never heard before, so I thought “OK, I’m an international student now” and from that moment on I changed my mindset. Everything I did, in terms of studying, making friends, and traveling around Europe, opened up my perspective of the world.”

Cynthia explains that there were ups and downs during her time in Tilburg: “I lived with an amazing group of seventeen people who got along so well. They became my family and I remember how they threw me a surprise birthday party shortly after we met. But there were also plenty of challenges for me. One of them was living in a country where cycling is part of the daily routine. Not knowing how to ride a bike was quite a drawback. So there I was, on the other side of the world, learning to ride a bike, a kid’s bike, to be precise, named Mike.

By the time I was able to ride my bike to the market, to visit a friend or to go to university, I realized I had reached a higher level of freedom and independence. For the first time in my life, I realized that determination is in my DNA.”

Knowledge is a valuable tool that needs to be shared with others, so we can build a better society together.

Going back home

When Cynthia applied to Tilburg University, she promised herself she would return to Bolivia and share her knowledge and experience with others to contribute to society.  Getting a master’s degree in Tilburg opened doors for Cynthia. As soon as she came home, she was hired as a lecturer at Universidad Privada Boliviana, and shortly after she was recruited to work for a prestigious law firm in Latin America, Ferrere Abogados, to do exactly what she wanted to do: provide legal advice to local and foreign companies. “Although I was growing professionally at the law firm while teaching at university, I felt that my place in the world was with students. I wanted to encourage them to study abroad to grow professionally and personally and then return home to make a difference by becoming highly qualified professionals who are not afraid to work hard and can inspire others to pursue their goals and dreams. Knowledge is a valuable tool that needs to be shared with others, so we can build a better society together.”

Actress and storyteller

Cynthia explains how one of her biggest passions connects with teaching: “Next to my professional career, I am also an actress and storyteller. Being occupied with art matters greatly to me and I wanted to turn what I was learning into something in which I could tell others about all kinds of things. In 2008 I started writing stories based on stories of my grandmother, my parents and other family members. I got myself into a Storytelling Competition in 2012 in my city (La Paz) in which I won "Lengua de Oro" (Golden Tongue). The prize? A spot on an international storytelling festival in Cochabamba, so I wrote a show dedicated to my grandmother who passed away in 2007. I travelled to Cochabamba were we also buried her in 2007. On the day that I would hear whether I would get the scholarship for Tilburg University, I went to the cemetery in the morning to leave flowers for my grandma and thank her for her stories. I also had my show that night and right before I had to go on stage, I got my long-awaited answer… I had the scholarship!

I believe teaching is art, and it has to come from an honest place, for example by sharing stories of your family. This is how I connect it with the classes I teach and why I love teaching so much. I love being on stage, being in "the here and now" and being in front of an audience. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic I stopped performing, but hopefully I will go back soon.”

Pursuing an academic career

Cynthia explains why she chose to pursue an academic career: “At the law firm, I could practice law and learn from the other staff and partners. Adrenaline, the long hours preparing reports, improving my skills, and making a name for myself in this field were challenging but worth it. After a while, I felt that my home was at university. This was the place where I truly felt like myself and I get to do exactly what I love the most: teaching. Plus, I am lucky to have great colleagues, who share the same passion and feel like family to me.”

“I decided to continue studying, so in 2019 I applied for a PhD program on Multidisciplinary studies in Politics, Society, and Culture. I am currently writing my dissertation on Social Entrepreneurship and Public Politics.

The decision on the PhD program I took with the advice of both my parents. They encouraged me to go for it. My father passed away when the program started. That was very difficult for me, yet he was the main reason why I had the strength to go for it; it was what he had wanted me to do.”

Where have your studies in Tilburg taken you?

Tilburg University closely monitors the quality of its degree programs, both in terms of their academic standard and regarding their alignment with the job market. That is why we keep track of our alumni’s careers, and as a graduate you can be of real help to new generations of students by telling us about your career.

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Date of publication: 12 December 2022