My question to you managers, directors, CEOs out there is how can I better position myself for a career transition? What skills do companies find valuable these days? And how can I capture some of that value for myself? I know I don’t have the professional experience but I know I can do more and have drive to prove myself. I just don’t think I’m selling myself properly in job applications and interviews.
Here’s the advice I give to anyone who asks me: it’s not always about what you know, it’s about who you know. Networking changes everything. Attend conferences, industry events, and professional gatherings related to your field. Build genuine connections. Those relationships often open doors that qualifications alone cannot.
I’m the son of immigrant parents from Mexico who came to this country with nothing and built a life through hard work and perseverance. I grew up in the ghetto, barely graduated high school, and dropped out of college. At 20, I entered the finance industry young, hungry, and stupid.
Along the way, I was fortunate to find a mentor who took me under his wing. He taught me the ropes, introduced me to executives, and helped me understand the unspoken rules of the business world. I worked relentlessly for over a decade, proving my worth, learning from every setback, and investing time (and more than a few dinners) into building lasting relationships.
Eventually, when my mentor moved on, he passed me the torch. With the support of leadership, I stepped into an executive role at a multi-billion-dollar financial institution. Even outperforming candidates with more traditional backgrounds and degrees in finance. Now I sit in a corner office, with a fuck you salary, fucking pornstars on the regular.
The lesson? Network intentionally. Find a mentor. Put in the work. Your background doesn’t define your ceiling. Your persistence, adaptability, and relationships do. When you do that consistently, you’ll eventually reach the level where your effort speaks for itself.
