Boise State MBA graduate now handles global banking deals in NYC

Josh LaPine now negotiates cross-border banking deals in New York City, a role he secured through a combination of academic training, international experience, and professional networking. His career path began at Boise State University, where he completed his undergraduate degree before enrolling in the Career Track MBA program.

The Career Track MBA is designed for recent bachelor’s degree holders who do not yet have professional experience. LaPine chose this program to maintain his educational momentum. He stated, “I always dreamed of pursuing a career in commercial diplomacy and international trade. I knew earning an MBA would add significant value to that journey, equipping me with both the hard analytical capabilities and soft leadership skills necessary to navigate global markets and diplomatic relations.”

During his enrollment, LaPine worked as a Graduate Assistant and contributed to the student newspaper. He credited two specific professors for shaping his professional skills. Tracie Lee, a business statistics professor who had also taught him during his undergraduate years, helped him understand the data-driven nature of business decisions. LaPine noted, “It was challenging, but it pushed me completely out of my comfort zone and gave me the analytical rigor I needed for the next level.”

Ben Quintana, a professor of public speaking and strategic communication, taught LaPine how to present persuasively. These lessons allowed LaPine to deliver the commencement speech at the graduating student leader ceremony and continue influencing his presentations in his current career.

Before completing his MBA, LaPine secured an internship with the U.S. Commercial Service in Boise through the Career Center’s Bronco Corps program. This role provided a foundation in international trade. He later used those connections to land an internship with the U.S. Embassy in Lima, Peru. In Lima, he worked on matchmaking operations in sectors such as aerospace, defense, healthcare, and mining, helping U.S. small and medium-sized enterprises expand their international market reach.

Midway through his MBA program, LaPine applied for the Fulbright-COMEXUS Binational Business Grant. This grant sends recent U.S. graduates to work for Mexican enterprises while they take executive coursework at ITAM in Mexico. LaPine spent the summer after his first year of the MBA preparing his application, including sitting for foreign language certifications and securing recommendations. His relationships with Boise State faculty and his prior foreign service experience helped him secure the grant.

In Mexico, LaPine worked on the business development team at BlackTrust, a Mexican technology company. He also founded his own consultancy to provide soft-landing and matchmaking services for U.S. companies moving operations to Mexico. His clients included businesses in logistics and retail. He attributed his ability to handle these cross-border transactions to the strategic toolkit and financial fluency gained from his Boise State education.

LaPine currently works in the global transactional banking group at BBVA in New York City. He supports U.S. subsidiaries of Latin American and Spanish multinationals with cross-border banking, treasury, and capital needs. He conducts business almost entirely in Spanish, leveraging the cultural fluency he developed in Mexico and Peru. LaPine credits the Fulbright fellowship directly for helping him land this specific role, as BBVA has market leadership in the regions where he gained firsthand experience.

He encourages current Boise State MBA students to build relationships and embrace the institution’s identity. “Gather all the knowledge you can,” LaPine said, “and always find ways to give it back to your community.”