Length of FEI membership: New Member
Title: VP of Finance
Company: The Mosaic Company
Length of time you’ve been a FEI member: New member
Work email: [email protected]
Tell us a little bit about your career, educational/professional background and how you got to where you are today.
I started my career in banking back in Brazil, where I am from. After business school in the U.S., I was hired by Cargill, a large privately-held multi-national company focused on agricultural products. I spent seven years with Cargill focused on strategy, business development and later growing a distressed-asset hedge fund in Asia.
In 2008 I joined Mosaic (NYSE: MOS), which is a fertilizer producer. In the last 11 years, I have held several positions, starting in Business Development, then into Treasury as Assistant Treasurer and Treasurer, moving on to lead the finance support team to our commercial and supply chain groups.
In 2017 Mosaic made a large acquisition in Brazil and I was working on that business unit planning the integration and as the CFO for that business. Earlier this year, I took a position that is responsible for accounting and FP&A and moved to Tampa where Mosaic is now headquartered.
What personality traits and intangible qualities do you look for when recruiting new talent?
The drive to get things done. You can teach the technical aspects of any job. You cannot teach self-motivation.
How did you discover your passion for finance?
I have always loved dealing with numbers and was always curious about business and economics. When I was a young boy, I started reading the newspaper and would go straight to the business section before I went to sports. Math was always my favorite subject at school and to this day I read math books and love math problems.
What is your best tip for how to stand out in the finance field?
Do not try to stand out. Do your job well and look for ways to contribute beyond what is expected of you. Show curiosity about the business and what other people do. Never assume you know everything.
What are some of your personal hobbies outside of finance?
I love to run. I also enjoy jigsaw puzzles, particularly the ones in 3D.