MinerAlert
MinerAlert
March 2026
By Alexandra Sanchez '17
For Ileana Cabada ’11, The JAV名女优馆 of Texas at El Paso was more than a place to earn a finance degree — it was the foundation for a global journey that would eventually lead her back home to build something of her own.
Cabada began her academic career at UTEP with encouragement from her grandfather, after completing high school in Ciudad Juárez, as it became the natural next step. “UTEP was the kickoff of everything,” Cabada said.
Her time at the UTEP sparked an interest in global business and economic systems. Studying in a region whose economy is so unique, due to it being in two separate countries and two economic infrastructures— El Paso and Juárez — gave her a unique perspective. That foundation led her to pursue a master’s degree abroad, studying in Germany and China, where she further explored global finance and emerging markets.
Cabada’s career evolved into the world of data science. After self-learning programming and data analysis, she completed an internship with eBay in Germany, analyzing consumer behavior across five European countries. She later worked in financial crimes data analysis at Wells Fargo, contributed to projects with Facebook, and conducted advertising and coupon performance analysis for Whole Foods.
Throughout her career, there was one thing she realized: the power of data reveals the “hard truth” about business decisions. But it was her time in Asia that planted the seed for her entrepreneurial interest.
While studying in China and visiting Taiwan, Cabada fell in love with Taiwanese tea culture. The flavor and different types of tea leaves led her love for tea, especially as someone who preferred tea over coffee for its smoother, more stable energy. Inspired by the natural qualities of real tea, she and her husband began envisioning a business that would be rooted in authenticity.
In 2023, that vision became reality with the opening of fubatea’s first location on Zaragoza in El Paso. In March 2025, Cabada fulfilled a longtime dream by opening a second location directly across from UTEP.
“I always wanted this location,” she said. “UTEP is my second home.”
The name fubatea, which translates to “the tea of good fortune,” reflects Cabada’s global experiences. “Fu” means good fortune, and “Ba” represents the lucky number eight in Chinese culture. The brand’s iconic cat logo symbolizes prosperity, a nod to the traditional good luck charm seen in many Asian shops.
From sourcing tea directly from Taiwan to taking intensive tea courses abroad, Cabada and her husband built the business from the ground up. The branding was created by fellow UTEP graduate and local artist Laura Turon, and the store design was completed by local architects— highlighting Cabada’s dedication to supporting the local community.
Her approach blends global influence with local awareness. Lessons in market penetration and consumer behavior, which were concepts she first explored at UTEP. They have continued to guide how she adapts authentic Asian tea traditions to El Paso’s culture without losing her vision. Every drink is made from scratch, without artificial powders, and crafted to maintain balance, allowing the tea itself to shine.
Now serving the very community that once shaped her, Cabada describes the experience as full circle.
To aspiring entrepreneurs, especially women, she offers simple advice: “Go for it.”
“You don’t have to be perfect to start,” she said. “Start small, test your idea, adapt, but don’t lose your vision.” With fubatea, Cabada has done just that — brewing good fortune one cup at a time.