Alejandro Acuna

I was born and raised in Costa Rica and moved to Tampa, FL with my family just months after the terrorist attacks in 2001. Language, culture, and people’s perceptions were all new to the seven of us, and we had to face these challenges with character and fortitude in order to thrive in our new country. As the oldest of five siblings, I was determined to serve as a positive influence and help my brothers overcome obstacles and achieve our dreams. My father was the most influential person in my academic life, but he has also been one of the most difficult barriers during my adulthood as we continue to struggle with his drug addiction. Despite this, I have been blessed throughout my life, from making sacrifices to put some of my siblings and myself through school to recently becoming a father, and everything in between.

As a senior manager at Chevron with 17 years of experience across the entire value chain in the energy industry, I have most recently been leading our Lower Carbon transition efforts within our Africa business unit. I offer valuable insights into the primary challenges our industry encounters when pursuing innovative and cost-effective solutions to ensure a timely and adequate energy transition.

I am an entrepreneurat heart, contemplating making the leap in the near future. This is one of the reasons I joined the Wharton Advanced Finance Program (AFP). I am eager to learn from this community, confident that many members have navigated similar paths.