Juan Carlos

At the age of ten, my father took me to a local bank branch in my hometown of David, Panama, to watch as he applied for a loan to buy a competitor of our family’s cattle business. The transaction was essentially a leveraged buyout by local standards. On that day, I first began to dream about pursuing a career in banking. Over time, my plans gravitated toward financing event-driven transactions, such as leveraged buyouts. My dream was to work on the biggest stage in the world – New York – and at the top firm in the industry, Goldman Sachs. For a 10-year-old living in a small town in Panama, that goal was more challenging than playing centerfield for the New York Yankees. But years later, I become a member of the Goldman Sachs family.

My advice for those who are considering a career in the banking industry is to prepare for a very dynamic environment, and one that has become more global and diverse. In my opinion, the most successful professionals in banking are those who are able to balance quantitative knowledge and technical skills with more interpersonal qualities, such as an affinity for teamwork and the ability to communicate effectively with clients and colleagues.