About Me

Hi Everyone!

If you don’t know me already, I’m Julie Goodman from Dallas, TX.  I started this blog so you can follow me on my adventures in Paraguay.  I will be serving in the US Peace Corps in Paraguay for 27 months, beginning May 30th, 2102.  I will update this blog frequently to keep all of you posted!

Why Peace Corps? I’ve been really, really lucky.  I grew up with a loving family, a nice house, great schools… everything anyone would want.  I’m not sure why, but I often think about what my life would be like if I wasn’t born into my family.  I think about what life would be like if I was born in a different country, maybe one where women don’t have many choices, or one where I constantly have to think about where my next meal will come from.  All of this reminds me of my grandfather, and how fortunate I was to have him in my life to make sure I had everything I wanted.  My grandfather, Peep, always made an effort to give back to the community by developing homes for the mentally disabled and donating for medical research.  I am planning to spend my next 2 years helping people who are not as lucky as me, to teach them business skills that can make them more successful.  I will be doing all this in Spanish and Guarani (the indigenous language), so wish me luck!  A huge thank you to everyone who has been so supportive, especially Mom!

A little more about me?  I received an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in April 2012.  At Thunderbird, I was selected to participate in 4 consulting projects with local and international companies, ranging from Latin American site selection, to online marketing in India, to change management in Phoenix.  I held a leadership position as the Service Corps Chairperson for the Net Impact Club, managing student-led non profit consulting projects.  In 2007, I received a BA in Economics and International Affairs from CU Boulder.  I spent my entire junior year abroad, learning about business and culture in Europe.  My freshmen year roommate in the dorms, Anoud, was a true inspiration for my international travels.  She convinced me to visit her home in Jordan for the summer and even helped me apply for my first passport.  Since then, I’ve traveled to 26 countries!!!

I am particularly proud of the bike and kayak business I started at age 22.  I created the business plan for a class, and was able to get a small loan to launch the business the following summer.  I even turned a profit after the first 2 months in operation!  Throughout the last 5 years, I have interned and worked for various companies, building on my expertise in sales and marketing.  I have professional, cross-cultural work experience in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, and the UK.  My entrepreneurial spirit continues, as I helped a friend in the Philippines start a website design and management company, Hibaroo, in November 2011.

I hope you enjoy my blog!

Yours Truly, Julie G