U of A students Mariana Dias and Niki Papakyriacou, who are studying Spanish and international business, interviewed Vanina De Lorenzo, Argentinean senior manager at Primax, a private Peruvian fuel retailer that distributes and commercializes fuels and crude derivatives including gasoline, diesel fuel, car lubricant, VNG and LPG.

Primax operates over 200 service stations throughout Peru and, since acquiring Shell and Repsol assets, it is also active in Ecuador. De Lorenzo, who has been with Primax since 2007, oversees retail for Listo, the Primax-administrated chain of convenience stores.

Dias and Papakyriacou conducted this interview for a class presentation in the Introduction to Literature course taught by Erika Almenara, associate professor of Spanish and associate director of Latin American and Latino Studies Program.

Key highlights of their findings include the way culture plays a key component in the field of marketing and retail, as culture not only defines groups but dictates values and beliefs which, in turn, shape how consumers shop and respond to marketing strategies. The students also shared that, based on De Lorenzo's experience with the company during the COVID pandemic, in her field of work you need to be open to change and adaptation if you want to succeed. De Lorenzo also expressed her concerns with the political and environmental situation in Latin America as she considers them key factors that affect the consumption of products in the region.

During the semester, other students from the Introduction to Literature course will interview specialists working in places such as El corte Inglés, the local news and the field of social-environmental sciences. Almenara said that these interviews bring students closer to the different dimensions of the Latin American reality as to broaden their horizons while they deepen their knowledge of particular cultures and political, economic and social contexts.