Eduardo Posadas is a true global citizen. Born in Mexico City to university academics, he was always encouraged to explore beyond his country’s borders.

“I used to get annoyed with my parents,” he laughs, explaining how they used to send him to summer school in the US to learn English. “I just wanted to hang out with my friends!”

But travel is clearly in his blood – his mother completed her PhD in France and his father also studied overseas. “I didn’t realise it then, but my parents definitely shaped my desire to discover other cultures,” he says.

Following his Bachelor of Marketing from the Escuela Bancaria y Comercial in Mexico City – and an exchange to the Rennes School of Business in France – it was surprisingly on holiday in Cancun that he first came to learn of Macquarie University.

“I met some Australians who explained my background in marketing agencies was in demand in Australia,” remembers Mr Posadas who, at the time, was working with global media group Publicis in offline media, digital and strategy for various industries.

“I was learning that to build a business, you need knowledge of management, accounting, finance and economics, so I researched postgraduate studies in Australia,” he explains. “I liked the structure of the Master of Commerce at Macquarie, and the campus – I knew straight away it was the right choice. It was life-changing.”

The full university experience

Once in Sydney, he quickly understood the university experience is about more than just attending classes and passing exams.

“It’s about being completely involved, especially as an international student, and I took full advantage of everything the university offered. From volunteering with the Big Lift to career development opportunities, my experiences were invaluable to my personal and professional growth.”

Through Macquarie’s Career Hub, Mr Posadas got a job at Magnamail, a large direct marketing group, where he was eventually promoted to e-commerce manager.

“I was also part of the Macquarie University Global Leadership Program. It was a great way to meet people and integrate into a new country, as it connects you with students from all different faculties. I made lots of good friends and had some great life experiences, like travelling to Costa Rica.”

But Mr Posadas says it was the lecturers at Macquarie that stood out most.

“They were outstanding. There’s a strong sense of community and genuine care at Macquarie – the professors became mentors and supported me in my career. I’m still in contact with some of them, and feel connected to the university even though I’m overseas.”

Mr Posadas says he is especially grateful to Dr LayPeng Tan, who gave him the opportunity to be an academic, an experience he says he will carry with him for the rest of his life.

“There’s nothing more gratifying than being able to impart something to others, and that’s what teaching is all about – inspiring students.”

The best change of plans

At the beginning of 2020, with borders slamming shut around the world, everything changed and it became clear Mr Posadas would need to return to Mexico City. Luckily, he was able to get on one of the last planes out of Sydney, finishing his teaching semester remotely.

“Covid turned out to be the best change of plans I ever had,” he says, because that’s how his entrepreneurial journey began.

“Friends in Mexico and Australia were asking me to consult for their businesses and brands – suddenly, I had 10, 20 then 30 clients, so I created 99 Degrees.”

Mr Posadas says the name represents the idea of his business being the missing degree that helps clients reach their “boiling point” of success through marketing and technology. His venture has been met with great success.. In four years, the business has grown to include 54 employees with offices in Mexico City, New York and now Sydney.

Eduardo Posadas’s bio

Eduardo Posadas completed his Master of Commerce at Macquarie in 2018, and shortly after became the university’s first Mexican lecturer to teach digital marketing as an adjunct academic. Today, he is Chief Executive Officer of 99 Degrees & Co, a prominent technology and media agency in Mexico City that collaborates with major brands such as Amazon, Renault, Juguetron, Suburbia and Liverpool.

Connect with Macquarie Alumni community

With alumni all around the world – from Mexico City to Milan and Mumbai – when you graduate from Macquarie University, you become part of a global family. To stay connected, check out our Global Alumni Networks. You never know what opportunities lie just around the corner.