Meet Alfredo Arvide
An ongoing series from The Alumni Society spotlighting its impressive members
Alma mater:
University of Notre Dame
I was born and raised in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, but graduated from high school in El Paso, Texas.
Home is Houston, Texas. After leaving South Bend, Indiana, and settling in Chicago, my Houstonian wife convinced me that humidity was better than the cold, and I couldn’t agree more now!
I am the director of products and innovation for Slalom Consulting, where I help companies solve their most complex business challenges by leveraging innovative solutions. Additionally, I have a marketing agency, MAP360, that helps entrepreneurs launch their startups. Lastly, I am an avid volunteer with nonprofit organizations, including the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, MassChallenge Houston, gener8tor gBeta, Techqueria, and more.
Trailblazing my own career path is what I am most proud of. I’ve always tried to follow my gut and really evaluate if the traditional path is right for me. For example, while at Notre Dame, tuition and loans weighed heavily on me. I had the opportunity to graduate early, so I did, even though it was against all the advice I received. I overloaded semesters and took summer courses at my community college, which allowed me to save one full year of Notre Dame tuition. It was absolutely not recommended, but it’s what worked for me in my situation, so I just did it.
Similarly, in the corporate world, I was presented with an opportunity to take on an internal role that would allow me to be home with my newly wedded wife. This change meant giving up the lucrative client-facing consulting role I had worked so hard to earn. I took the “step down” because family meant more to me than the recommended climbing of the corporate ladder approach. To this day, I continue to forge my own way and hope to enable, advise, and support those faced with these types of decisions.
What benefits or values do you seek in networking platforms such as The Alumni Society?
After about sixteen years in the workforce, I feel that I have a lot more to give and I am probably not even halfway done. So, I want to learn from the journeys of other professionals with similar backgrounds and goals. I also would love to mentor, guide, and advise those just starting out on their journeys.
I am passionate about people development. My favorite aspect of the role is supporting growth and professional development of my direct reports. I love technology, marketing, and innovation; however, I never hesitate to take a phone call from anyone asking for advice, help, or mentoring. I also love to see the next generation be successful, reach their dreams, and reap the rewards of hard work and determination. That is what drives me. I am a firm believer that “rising tides raise all boats,” which is why I always remind folks that if they are successful, we’ll all be successful. We’re all in this together.
