Sergio Baltazar on Leadership and the Path from UTEP to Cummins

Long before Sergio Baltazar (BBA ’20, MBA ’22) built a career at Cummins — working at the intersection of data, operations, and people — he was helping shape the student experience at UTEP.

From leading Vision Mexico, serving as SGA President, and chairing the UTEP Green Fund, his foundational experiences in leadership informed his approach to work today.

Those early experiences sparked a commitment to giving back.

Today, he returns to UTEP, connecting with students and sharing his leadership experiences — reminding young professionals that success begins with community.

Below, he reflects on the lessons that still guide him.

Leadership Begins with Belonging

Baltazar’s first leadership lesson arrived early:

“Serving as president of Vision Mexico taught me that leadership starts with belonging,” he said.

Becoming Student Body President pushed that lesson further.

“That role showed me the value of difference. Leadership isn’t about having the answers — it’s about listening deeply and moving forward together.”

His work with the UTEP Green Fund added a new dimension: long-term thinking and shared governance.

A Border Education

For Baltazar, studying business on the border is a strategic advantage.

“UTEP prepares leaders in a market that mirrors the future of the U.S. — bilingual, culturally rich, global, entrepreneurial,” he said.

It also shaped his sense of identity:

“As more Hispanic and Latino students earn degrees, entire families rise. We redefine what it means to be American and Latino at the same time.”

Lessons That Still Matter

Working with people, he said, remains the true art of leadership.

“Navigating viewpoints, building coalitions, creating shared wins — those muscles were built at UTEP and I use them daily.”

He credits faculty and staff mentors across campus for helping him see potential he hadn’t recognized.

“They believed in me before I fully believed in myself.”

Early Career Clarity

Like many first-generation students, Baltazar grew up believing that hard work alone moved you forward.

“Sometimes hard work just pays off with… more work,” he said.

What changed his trajectory was learning to work strategically, set boundaries, and focus on sustainable growth.

Purpose and Empathy

Even in a data-driven field, he stays rooted in people.

“Data reflects human behavior,” he said. “A simple ‘how are you?’ goes a long way.”

When work becomes chaotic, he anchors himself in what he can control: “Structure brings calm.”