McGill University runs in my family. My mother, Dr. Silvia Monti de Flores, inspired me to study at McGill as she did her psychiatry training there in the 1980s. My brother, Gabriel Flores, is also a McGill alumnus who graduated with a BSc in physiology.
The student environment at McGill was so international and it opened my eyes to the rich diversity of cultures. I studied with people from all over the world. I was very involved in student life and was an active member of the Latin American Students Association and Founding Editor of the Latin American Political Sciences Journal.
McGill gave me a solid foundation in the arts and helped me to think critically. My major in anthropology instilled in me the importance of thinking broadly, being curious and appreciating diverse cultures. My studies at McGill prepared me well for working in the global pharmaceutical industry where I have spent most of my career working with major multinational corporations. I have had the privilege of working in 16 countries and whenever I mention that I graduated from McGill people remark on what a great university it is. McGill has brought me credibility and has played an important role in the evolution of my career and what I have been able to accomplish.
My interest in pursuing a career in communications came by chance while working for a company in healthcare that had global operations. I built and led the communications team in Latin America and through this experience I discovered that I enjoyed building bridges between people and cultures, working with stakeholders to bring awareness of key corporate initiatives, and delivering value to customers. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to combine communications and international business – two areas that I am passionate about – and I have had a successful career in both.
I was inspired to give back to McGill as a board member of the McGill Women’s Alumnae Association (MWAA) and the Faculty Advancement Board of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. It has been an honour to be invited to be a guest lecturer in leadership at the Desautels Faculty of Management as I am passionate about advancing women’s leadership, fostering diversity and inclusion and supporting the future generations of leaders. I look forward to continuing to contribute in these areas.