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In this week’s NextGen to Watch, we’re spotlighting Esteban Lopez, a transfer pricing manager at Ernst & Young (EY) in their New York office. Lopez was born and raised in Quito, Ecuador, before he came to the US for his education. At EY, he helps hedge funds, private equity funds, investment banks, and FinTech firms. Additionally, Lopez is an alumnus of the Strategy and Transactions People Advisory Forum and is an advisor for the EY Professional Network Executive Board.
Who inspired you the most in your life growing up?
Without a doubt, my parents are and always will be my ultimate sources of inspiration. Witnessing their unwavering dedication to provide my sister and I with the finest education and life prospects left an indelible mark on my journey. Their ceaseless sacrifices and unrelenting support have played an instrumental role in shaping the person I am today. They taught me that, regardless of what career path I chose, I had to work the hardest to be the best at it. Also, they told me that there are no shortcuts to success and that honesty and integrity are indispensable. Their guidance instilled in me the significance of effort, determination, and a strong work ethic as the true paths to achievement. Lastly, my mom always emphasized accountability for my decisions, “al toro por los cuernos,” for both favorable and unfavorable outcomes. My parents are the most selfless people I know, and I would definitely not be here today without all of their sacrifice and support of all my life’s decisions—the successes and, most importantly, the mistakes.
Whose career really inspires you?
I feel like my list of models tends to continuously grow and evolve, as I like to focus on different traits from leaders I look up to. Primarily, I try to find inspiration in leaders who I have a tangible resonance with and closer or reasonable access to. Based on this, an individual whose career deeply echoes with me is Marcelo Bartholo, presently serving as the Americas Deputy Managing Principal at EY.
Marcelo’s remarkable journey from Brazil to his current position at EY embodies qualities of humility and a strong connection to his cultural heritage. What particularly impresses me is his ability to ascend the corporate ladder while remaining authentic and grounded to his roots and his role as a family-oriented man. These qualities are ones that I admire and aspire to emulate as I navigate my early career. Despite his demanding schedule, Marcelo consistently carves out moments to devote time to his kids, the Latin community, and our EY Latino Professional Network. He tirelessly empowers young Latinos and Latinas, inspiring them to be their best selves. Marcelo’s willingness to candidly share insights from his career experiences and offer valuable advice to emerging leaders underscores his commitment to mentorship and “rising by lifting others.”
Witnessing his resilience and dedication to principles like selflessly doing the right thing, promoting the right person for the job, and the importance of focusing on being a good father, husband, and son has deeply resonated with my own leadership style. His guiding principles serve as a compass for my approach to leadership when thinking about my professional future.
What lesson did you learn early in your career that still serves you today?
Although I still think I am in the early stages of my professional journey, one invaluable lesson I learned early in my career is the power of consistently doing the right thing, even when you think no one is noticing. Over time, I’ve come to appreciate the dividends that integrity and diligence yield. Slowly but surely, if you continue to work hard, master your craft, do right by your clients, colleagues, and community, people will start to notice and look up to you as a role model—even if you don’t intend doing so. In the words of the wise Charlie Munger, “It is remarkable how much long-term advantage people like us have gotten by trying to be consistently not stupid.”
What are some of the biggest challenges you see for Latino professionals early in their careers?
Latino professionals often encounter unique challenges in their early careers and navigate unfamiliar territory with resilience. Many of us are pioneers as first-generation immigrants, college graduates, or emerging business leaders. The absence of established guidance can give rise to uncertainty.
To overcome this, I’ve sought out mentors—successful Latino and Latina professionals as well as allies—who have generously shared their insights and advice and stood in my corner when I needed it the most. In regard to bridging the gap on “allyship,” I’ve recognized the power of sharing my own journey with others rather than trying to pretend to be something I am not. This has helped me foster genuine connections with leaders who may not necessarily have the same background I have, but have been open to learning about how different a life could be in someone else’s shoes and becoming invested in my success.
I think our community is making solid progress in offering Latinos and Latinas equal opportunity, pay, and advancement in their career journeys through hard work and dedication. I truly believe we are the most resilient and vibrant community on the globe, and we are slowly but surely making a mark in the world across different industries through our determination and perseverance.
How can Latino professionals better advocate for themselves?
Being honest and true to your values and background is the best way to advocate for yourself as a Latino professional. Often, we try to “fit the norm” of those around us, especially in careers and locations where Latin representation may be limited. However, I’ve found that being true to my roots, opening up about my background, and letting those around me know about my story and how my life experiences shape my opinion has allowed me to build strong bonds with the right people.
Practicing authenticity leads to surrounding yourself with those who appreciate and respect individuality, which inherently facilitates personal and professional growth. As a minority, transforming our diverse upbringing from a perceived weakness into an asset can significantly reshape the way we connect with others and seize opportunities.
Lastly, having a solid network around you will shape your success. I am a strong believer that our behaviors, thoughts, and goals are influenced by our reference group. Therefore, choosing what you do and who you spend your free time with wisely is likely to have the biggest impact on your future.
What is part of your daily routine that you look forward to every day?
I personally really look forward to three things: my “me time,” my family time, and my socializing time.
For the first one, my “me time” is time spent either cycling or boxing training. I find that these are times in which I get to energize my mind and body, providing the fuel needed to tackle demanding workdays. Sometimes we get carried away on the day-to-day and releasing energy via an intense workout helps me blur out the noise and focus solely on the challenge I have in front of me.
My family time is my daily phone call with my parents. This serves as an emotional anchor, offering wisdom and a sense of connection to my family and country despite the physical distance that separates us. All first-generation immigrants in the country know how tough it is to be away from those you love the most as a sacrifice for better opportunities. Being able to connect with them, even if shortly, reminds me of my purpose every day.
Lastly, I have always been an extroverted person who picks up energy from those around me. Connecting with others, either at the office with colleagues for a “cafecito” or with friends outside of work, helps me learn from those around me and ask for their perspective on different challenges in both the personal and professional realm.
What behavior or personality traits do you attribute to your success?
I think my early career journey has been influenced by my commitment to create personal connections and respect for every individual, regardless of their background, occupation, or title. I always treat the company’s CEO and the friendly members of our building maintenance staff with the same level of dignity and respect. Prioritizing meaningful interactions over hierarchical structures has enabled fruitful collaborations and unlocked unforeseen opportunities. I have never really paid much attention to my own rank or title and, until this day, I have never used it in my email signature. I believe that kindness, dedication, and genuine care for the tasks you work on, regardless of what they are, will always lead to new opportunities being presented to you as well as a helping hand when you need it the most.
Which causes are you passionate about?
This is a tough one to narrow down. If I had to name and summarize these into one, I think it would be the commitment toward equal opportunity. My upbringing was closely intertwined with Latin America’s race-, class-, and gender-based disparities in access to opportunities.
In my mother’s entrepreneurial journey, she employed a workforce where 98 percent were women of color, many of whom were the sole breadwinners for their low-income families. This experience exposed me to the harsh realities of racism, classism, and sexism or machismo that are sadly still prevalent in our culture. The stories of these women were a reality check on the persistent issue of gender inequality globally.
Growing up in Latin America allows you to see first-hand how different expectations imposed on races, social classes, and genders by society can have a marked impact on a person’s future. However, I witnessed how my mother used her leadership role to unlock the transformative power of her employees in both professional and societal spheres, causing a positive effect on their families’ futures.
Inspired by my mother’s example, I am committed to addressing disparities in gender, race, and class through professional development programs and mentoring. This commitment has made my experience at EY special, as it has allowed me to invest time in helping young professionals have the drive and interest in shaping a brighter future for themselves, their families, and their communities.
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Find Lopez on LinkedIn.
