Title: Co-founder & CEO
Company: MarkitLend (www.markitlend.com)
Length of FEI membership: Since 1987
FEI leadership involvement (past and present): Have been involved with local chapter leadership for the South Florida Chapter.
Work email: [email protected]
Work phone: (512) 470-0010
Tell us a little bit about your career, educational/professional background and how you got to where you are today.
My career started in the technical field. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical & Ocean Engineering from the University of Miami and graduated at the top of my class. I then received the Collier Trophy from NASA, so I am a rocket scientist. I later obtained my MBA from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
One of my many major achievements is the 1988 spin-off IPO of Racal Telecommunications for $900 million. The largest IPO to date at the time, now known as Vodafone. I am also the Founder & CEO of SMpL (Software for Marketplace Lending), a software company providing proven and proprietary loan purchasing tools for peer-to-peer investors.
What is one piece of information you wish someone had told you when you first started your finance career?
The harder you work, the luckier you will get.
What do you love most about working as a financial executive?
Growing businesses and mentoring junior staff members.
Do you think it takes a certain kind of personality to thrive in finance? What traits are most important?
You need to be more of an introvert than an extrovert.
What personality traits and intangible qualities do you look for when recruiting new talent?
Attitude and intellect.
What is your best tip for how to stand out in the finance field?
Work hard and be diligent.
What are some of your personal hobbies outside of finance?
I enjoy going to the beach, museums, cathedrals/duomos, playing sports (when I was younger), and traveling.
Why did you move to Tampa?
I was born in Cuba and emigrated to the United States at an early age. We moved to Tampa from Northern Colorado because my wife loves Clearwater Beach and the weather. We’ve also lived in Prague.