One of the benefits of cultivating a strong network is the positive, far-reaching impact it has on graduates. Often, the value the network offers to students comes back to the school multiplied through the myriad contributions those same individuals make as alumni. Ellen Castro, a two-time Cox graduate and Business Leadership Center instructor, exemplifies this boomerang effect.
“Anything you give to SMU and the Cox School, you get back ten-fold,” said Castro. “To me, SMU is home. It’s always there for you, and it is customizable to your needs.”
As an undergraduate at SMU, Castro participated in a number of extracurricular activities, serving as vice president of her sorority, a sophomore advisor, and residential assistant of her dorm, McElvaney Hall. She was also selected to join Mortar Board, an honor society for high academic achievement; Beta Gamma Sigma, the business honor society; and Kirkos, also known as “The Friendly 40.”
After receiving her BBA in three and a half years, Castro worked as a supervisor at Southwestern Bell for eight months before deciding to pursue her MBA at Cox, where she received a scholarship and an assistantship with a finance professor.
“In addition to equipping me with all the essential business tools, the Cox School helped me gain self confidence by building my sense of teamwork and emotional intelligence,” she said. “What’s more, having an MBA from Cox adds credibility to all my professional endeavors.”
With her MBA in hand, Castro began an 11-year career at Exxon that included five different assignments. By the age of 29, she was managing a $90 million profit center with 500 employees and 55 service stations. She was the first female sales manager to achieve such success at the energy giant, but despite this accomplishment Castro says she hit the glass ceiling. “It was the early 1980s,” she noted, “and business opportunities for women were not what they are today. I was also interested in organizational management and leadership development at that time.” So she enrolled in a Master’s in Education program at Harvard.
After earning her degree at Harvard, Castro was ready to come home, back to Dallas. She is currently a motivational speaker and consultant who travels nationally and internationally, sharing her unique insights on the virtues of trust, credibility, leadership, engaging communications, and human potential in today’s world. She has inspired thousands of people through her speaking and consulting engagements, and reached millions through her television and radio appearances and writings. Her bestselling book Spirited Leadership…52 Ways to Build Trust on the Job has been used by business leaders to revitalize their organizations in today’s ever-changing competitive environment.
Despite her busy schedule, Castro makes time to serve as an instructor in the Cox Business Leadership Center, where she has developed and presented three courses, including Motivating Self and Others to Excel and Team Building through Effective Communications. Castro says she loves teaching because it allows her to regroup her thoughts and learn continuously. She finds MBAs to be her toughest audience. “After being in front of them, I can stand in front of anyone and present with ease,” she said.
In addition, Castro serves on the Cox Associate Board and the Business Associates Program. She formerly served as the communications chair for the Cox Alumni Association.
Castro attributes her connections to the Cox School for establishing five of her closest friendships: Bill Linburg (BBA ’74, MBA ’76), whom she met during her first week as an undergraduate; Roxann Garcia (SMU MLA ’89) a former staff member at the school; Julie Hamrick (MBA ’85); Paula Strasser, director of the BLC and BLI; and Inna Kizenkova (MBA ’02), whom she mentored through the Associate Board.
“The relationships I have built with everyone at SMU and Cox have truly been an inspiration and a blessing to me,” Castro said. “From the students and alumni to the top-notch faculty and staff, it is the personal touch that makes the university and business school so special.”
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