USD Magazine Spring 2017

by Ryan T. Blystone [ a p p r e c i a t i o n ] Nur tur i ng teamwork between U. S . and Mex i co MAKING THE CONNECTION R Take, for instance, the TEDx- SanDiego talk, “Innovation Beyond Borders,” she gave at Copley Sym- phony Hall in October 2016. She was initially surprised by the invita- ing such a big platform.” A Mexico City native and Califor-

natural thing. To me, when I think about innovation and entrepreneurship, it doesn’t stop at the border. You can’t stop ideas from going back and forth. There’s real strength in building things together.” Bernal is dedicated to creating and building platforms for others. She and Michael Lawless, USD’s lead professor for entrepreneur- ship, have built two must-attend annual campus events: the Ven- ture Vetting (V2) Pitch Competi- tion each spring and the USD Leg- acy Entrepreneurship Conference each fall. She supports women entrepreneurs via USD’s Entrepre- neurship Club, represents the business school at entrepreneur- ship community events and vol- unteers for organizations that promote cross-border mentor- ship. And she juggles it all as a new student in USD’s leadership studies master’s program. This approach dovetails nicely with USD’s designation as one of 37 Ashoka U Changemaker Cam- puses worldwide, and she’s used

egina Bernal doesn’t just come to work and put in her time. Rather, the School of Business’ entrepre- neurship manager has many of the same traits as those with whom she works each day: Persistence. Motivation. Energy. Improvement. Positivity. “Entrepreneurs have a lot of unique traits,” says Bernal ‘13, a communication studies alumna. “My personality goes along very well with the people I work with. We get things done. We’re always thinking, always talking, and always communicating ideas — while trying to make them better. What I do goes way beyond the job. Being entrepre- neurial is a way of life.”

nia resident since age 6, Bernal calls the U.S.-Mexico border a “mega-region” of opportunity. She cites specific examples: Tijua- na’s craft beer movement melding with San Diego’s lofty status in that niche; El Cajon’s prestigious Taylor Guitars, which employs a binational workforce in Mexico and on this side of the border; and the burgeoning popularity of Taco Tuesday, which celebrates one of Mexico’s favorite foods, becoming a staple of not just San Diego but the U.S. as a whole. “I’m a product of this region,” she says. “USD’s campus is 20 minutes from another country. From my point of view, our interactions have always been a

tion, but that quickly subsided, making way for full commitment. “If you would’ve told me when I was taking a public speaking class at USD that one day I’d be giving a TEDx talk, I’d have said, ‘No way!’ But when opportunities you don’t envision for yourself are presented, you have to take the risk,” she says. “I was nervous, but then I thought about it. If you have the chance to be in front of 2,000 people and deliver a mes- sage, what would it be? Having your voice heard is an opportuni- ty for leadership. There’s a lot of responsibility that goes with hav-

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