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50x50: Cubana Libre episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 5, 2026 · 54 MIN

50x50: Cubana Libre

from 50 X 50: HARVARD CLASS OF 1976 · host Michael Conniff

What happens when a young Cuban refugee arrives in America, earns a scholarship to Harvard, builds an international career, and ultimately finds herself questioning the very country that gave her a new beginning?In this deeply personal episode of 50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976?, Michael Conniff sits down with Teresita Alvarez-Bjelland to explore a remarkable life journey that spans Cuba, Miami, Harvard, corporate leadership, Norway, and global philanthropy. Teresita shares vivid memories of growing up under Castro’s regime, her family’s escape from Cuba, the opportunities America provided, and the transformative impact Harvard had on her life. She reflects on identity, immigration, leadership, motherhood, ambition, and the difficult tradeoffs many women of her generation faced between family and career.Along the way, she offers candid thoughts on modern America, lifelong learning, public service, gratitude, and what it means to live a life defined by curiosity, generosity, and integrity.A moving conversation about resilience, belonging, and the enduring search for home.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jun 5, 2026

What this episode covers

What happens when a young Cuban refugee arrives in America, earns a scholarship to Harvard, builds an international career, and ultimately finds herself questioning the very country that gave her a new beginning?In this deeply personal episode of 50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976?, Michael Conniff sits down with Teresita Alvarez-Bjelland to explore a remarkable life journey that spans Cuba, Miami, Harvard, corporate leadership, Norway, and global philanthropy. Teresita shares vivid memories of growing up under Castro’s regime, her family’s escape from Cuba, the opportunities America provided, and the transformative impact Harvard had on her life. She reflects on identity, immigration, leadership, motherhood, ambition, and the difficult tradeoffs many women of her generation faced between family and career.Along the way, she offers candid thoughts on modern America, lifelong learning, public service, gratitude, and what it means to live a life defined by curiosity, generosity, and integrity.A moving conversation about resilience, belonging, and the enduring search for home.

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How long is this episode of 50 X 50: HARVARD CLASS OF 1976?

This episode is 54 minutes long.

When was this 50 X 50: HARVARD CLASS OF 1976 episode published?

This episode was published on June 5, 2026.

What is this episode about?

What happens when a young Cuban refugee arrives in America, earns a scholarship to Harvard, builds an international career, and ultimately finds herself questioning the very country that gave her a new beginning?In this deeply personal episode of...

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