Each week, JWMI profiles students and alumni in its new featured series “Winning Voices.” Learn about our diverse community and what sets our program apart from those who have experienced it. For more great “Winning Voices” content, click here.
Luis Ferreira
Vice President
EFG Capital
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I work for EFG Capital, in Miami, FL. The European Financial Group (EFG) is a Top 10 Swiss Private Bank with approximately 140 billion dollars in assets under management. As Vice President in the role of Investment Counselor, I have been providing customized investment advice for ultra-high net worth individuals over the last 13 years.
As part of the financial planning process, my primary goal is to meet two primary needs for each investor: cash flow and risk-adjusted return. The universe of investments that I deal with is global and includes assets that range from stocks, fixed income, hedge funds, structured products, private equity, real estate, currency, and commodities.
Why did you want to get an MBA?
To boost my career. I was trying to move from a financial position to an executive level position. As an economist, I did study managerial courses in college, such as human resources, leadership, entrepreneurship, marketing, or operational management. These capabilities are essential to know how to build a team, how to motivate them, and how to overperform in every part of a business cycle. Today I am proud to share that the JWMI online MBA helped me significantly to develop these winning skills.
Did you find the curriculum was immediately applicable, please explain?
Absolutely. The number one rule of the MBA is “learn today, apply tomorrow.” Each week the professors asked us to create a game plan to implement what we have learned during the last seven days. The task created a powerful mindset that I still hold onto today, to always think of ways to be more creative, improve performance and processes in my workplace.
What’s been your most rewarding experience in the program?
The networking. I have met fantastic people during the program: classmates, faculty, not to mention arguably the most successful CEO of the 21st-century Jack Welch himself, in person. Additionally, I am thrilled to meet new students as a member of the Student Advisory and Alumni Board (SAAB). Being a part of one of the hottest MBAs is not only an honor but also a unique and memorable experience filled with many opportunities to learn and grow.
What strategies did you implement to manage job, family, life and an MBA?
Time management. Emergencies and unexpected issues arise, but you have to develop the skills to deal with them. Learning these skills early is a key to your success in business and in life. If you often face unexpected situations, most likely you are not planning effectively.
My academic strategy was to submit all posts, assignments, and learning journals as early as possible. That’s how you deal with emergencies. If you have submitted your assignments in advance, you can limit your stress when an unexpected business trip pops up or when you have to work overtime. However, if unexpected problems arise frequently, this should be a red flag for you to make a change! As Jack Welch says, “change before you have to.”
My strategy as it relates to family was to communicate with candor. Do your best to somehow include your family in the journey. For example, share some best practices and celebrate good grades together. Remember to keep all your promises. “Your word is your bond.” Never miss an important date, have fun, and remember: “happy wife, happy life!”
In summary, before the MBA I always thought that I had insufficient time available to deal with my personal and professional life. After graduation, I realized that I have a great deal of free time. The Jack Welch MBA has expanded my capacity to manage time, I am much more productive and efficient.
What advice can you share with new students embarking on the Jack Welch online MBA journey?
Get it done. As in a competitive business environment, you must plan ahead, set aggressive goals, prioritize the important things, and execute flawlessly. This is exactly what you have to do during your MBA journey. Submit all your work on time; take the opportunity to train and write all assignments as you were writing a professional business case. When you are tasked with your first opportunity to develop, to implement or to manage a big project, you will be an expert already. You got this! Just do it!
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