Building Connections: How Pedro Turushina ’10 Turned Every Opportunity Into a Leadership Lesson
When CAH alumnus Pedro Turushina ’10 talks about his career, he doesn’t describe a master plan.
Instead, the Art graduate describes a series of opportunities, each one teaching him something new.
A retail job helped him become more outgoing. Graphic design taught him how to communicate ideas. Running his own business taught him how entrepreneurs think. Mentors showed him the value of investing in others.
“Every position taught me something different,” he says. “Whether it was customer service, operations, sales, or leadership, all of those experiences helped prepare me for what I do now.”
Today, those lessons come together in his role as president and CEO of the Orlando Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where he helps businesses grow, builds connections across industries and advocates for entrepreneurs throughout Central Florida.
Looking back, Turushina sees a common thread.
Finding a Creative Foundation at UCF
Turushina’s original passion was animation.
That interest led him first to Valencia College and eventually to UCF through DirectConnect, where he pursued a degree in graphic design.
At UCF, he discovered that great design is about more than creativity; it’s about solving problems.
He recalls professors teaching the fundamentals of design by hand, helping students understand not just how to create something visually appealing, but how to communicate effectively.
“That foundation stayed with me,” Turushina says.
The experience sharpened skills that would follow him into every stage of his professional life.
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From Designer to Entrepreneur
After graduation, Turushina built a career that touched nearly every side of the creative and business worlds.
He worked for FedEx Kinko’s, learning the production side of printing. A role with Sodexo, a global food services and facilities management organization that exposed him to the corporate environment. Work for a local signage company introduced him to the realities of operating a small business.
Each position added another piece to the puzzle.
Eventually, he launched his own graphic design and branding agency, Elokuent.
As a business owner, he gained firsthand experience with the challenges many entrepreneurs face, from attracting customers to managing growth and building a sustainable company.
The experience changed his perspective.
He realized he wanted to do more than help individual businesses tell their stories.
He wanted to help business owners succeed.
A Mission Bigger Than One Business
That desire ultimately led him to the Orlando Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Initially hired as director of marketing, Turushina saw an opportunity to support entrepreneurs in new ways. Instead of focusing solely on branding and design, he found himself helping business owners navigate growth, build partnerships and access resources.
“I fell in love with the mission,” he says.
A mentor within the organization recognized his potential and encouraged him to grow into larger leadership roles. He later became vice president and eventually president and CEO.
Today, he leads an organization that has spent more than three decades supporting Central Florida’s business community.
The work is deeply personal.
Having built a business himself, Turushina understands the challenges entrepreneurs face. That perspective inspired one of the chamber’s newest initiatives, a leadership academy for young entrepreneurs.
“I remember the support I needed back then,” he says.
The program’s first cohort included 37 participants between the ages of 19 and 25, helping aspiring business leaders gain knowledge, mentorship and practical tools for success.
Creating Opportunities for Others
When asked what advice he would give students and young professionals, Turushina doesn’t hesitate.
Stay true to what inspires you.
Early in his journey, some people questioned his decision to pursue graphic design instead of a more traditional profession. He listened but ultimately trusted his instincts.
“I would say just stick to your passions,” he says. “Stick to your heart, to your beliefs.”
For Turushina, success has never been about following a straight path.
It has been about remaining curious, embracing opportunities and continuing to learn.
The same mindset that carried him from a graphic design classroom at UCF to the leadership of one of Central Florida’s most influential business organizations continues to guide him today.
And now, through mentorship, advocacy, and community-building, he is helping create opportunities for the next generation of entrepreneurs to do the same.
