International Strategy, Management, Cultural Intelligence, Study Abroad, Expatriate Life
×
Holy Cross Website Search
Steve Varela, PhD
Business Department Chair,
Associate Professor of Business
Areas of Expertise
Education
PhD, International Business Management, International School of Management, Paris, France
MBA, International Management, Arizona State University
MS, Computer Science – Network Engineering and Management, DePaul University
BS, Computer Science – Management Information Systems, DePaul University
Meet Dr. Varela
Dr. Steve Varela recently joined Holy Cross College as Chair of the Business Program in the Fall of 2024. As the College’s first Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Varela is teaching international business in Romania for the 2025-2026 Academic Year.
As a recognized expert in Cultural Intelligence, he delivers seminars on international management and negotiation and conducts research on cross-cultural effectiveness based on more than four years of field research in Asia. His recent scholarly contributions include research into global student mobility, international conventions on wisdom, and service as a peer-reviewer for the Fulbright Scholarship program. Prior to joining the academe, he served as a corporate executive for top multinationals such as Iridium, LLC., Motorola International Ventures and AT&T. He has lived and lead multinational teams for nearly two decades in Brazil, Chile, China, Nigeria, and Taiwan.
Dr. Varela also serves as a first responder with the National Ski Patrol, holds a private pilot certificate, and serves as a pastoral council member of the Diocese of Gary. He now lives in New Carlisle with his wife and two daughters, all of whom hail from a different continent.