From Quito to Stanford, Snap and Airbnb: Juan David Borrero's Journey

This month, we're proud to spotlight a Colegio Menor alumnus whose path has taken him from Quito to Stanford, and from the early days of Snapchat to leading Global Partnerships and Business Development at Airbnb.

Along the way, Juan David Borrero has embraced challenges bigger than his previous experience, stayed curious, built meaningful relationships, and learned to move forward even when the path wasn't clear. His story is a powerful reminder that opportunities don't always come with a map. Sometimes, you simply have to take the leap, work hard, stay open-minded, and trust that the next step will lead somewhere worth going.

Where it all began

For Juan David, the foundation was built at Colegio Menor.

"Colegio Menor taught me to be curious, work hard, and hold myself to a high standard, while also surrounding me with teachers, classmates, and mentors who challenged me to think bigger. More than anything, it gave me the confidence to believe that I could compete and succeed anywhere, even beyond just Ecuador, which was invaluable when I arrived at Stanford and later built my career."

From Stanford to Snapchat

After graduating from Colegio Menor, Juan David went to Stanford University, where he earned a double major in Economics and International Relations, with a minor in Political Science.

He began his career in New York, spending a year in Sales & Trading at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. He then moved to Los Angeles to join a small startup founded by a college friend: Snapchat.

Eleven years at Snap, and a new chapter at Airbnb

Juan David spent 11 years at Snap, taking on a variety of roles and helping build both the Partnerships and International Markets teams. He later joined Airbnb, where he now leads the Global Partnerships and Business Development teams, working across the company to build new businesses and partnerships that expand Airbnb beyond stays.

Lessons along the way

"Looking back, the biggest milestones in my career have come from being willing to take on challenges that were bigger than my previous experience, from moving from Quito to Stanford, to joining a rapidly growing technology company in its early days, to taking on a global leadership role at Airbnb. Each step has taught me to learn quickly, surround myself with great and smart people, and be comfortable operating without having all the answers, lessons that continue to shape how I lead today."

His advice to current students

"Dream bigger than what feels realistic today, and don't let the fear of failure determine what you pursue. You never know where an opportunity will take you, so work hard, stay curious, build meaningful relationships, and be willing to take the leap when an opportunity comes your way, even when the path ahead isn't clear. When I started at Stanford, I didn't think I would join a startup right after college, but being open-minded, curious, and surrounding yourself with people who inspire you is crucial."

Greatness begins here

We're proud to see a Menor alumnus carrying the confidence to think bigger, take risks, and create impact wherever his journey takes him. Thank you, Juan David, for sharing your story with our community, and for reminding our students that every journey begins with a first step.