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NextGen Collective spotlights Bryant Burciaga, who is pursuing his MBA at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. Read about his career aspirations, the causes he’s passionate about, and more.
Where are you from?
Denver, Colorado. My family is from Zacatecas, Mexico.
What do you do today and where do you want to go in your career?
I’m currently a full-time MBA Student at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. I’m currently working on developing a fintech business concept called LexoFin.ai, but I am also very interested in a career in equity research. Ultimately, I want to have a career that has meaningful impact to the communities I care about through the tools of finance and technology.
Who inspired you the most in your life growing up?
My parents, who came to the US in search of a better life from Zacatecas, Mexico and sacrificed so much so their children could succeed. I have always been inspired by their hard work and dedication to make their goals happen and get ahead in life.
Whose career really inspires you?
The amazing career of my great mentor, the late Bob Feder. He passed away earlier this year, but as an 87-year-old man he had successfully started and sold six businesses throughout his career, many of which were far ahead of their time, including AutomotiveMD’s, a triple-AAA alternative for the Denver Metro area back in the 80s. Bob had an entrepreneurial spirit from start to finish and he always pursued the things he wanted, in his way. Being born in an era that was very anti-startup (1930s!), yet still pursuing ideas he thought were great was always very inspiring to me.
What do you wish you had known at the start of your career?
I wish I had known to push the buttons of society and business more. To inquire more about why things are the way they are. And I wish I had known that not all advice is good advice, and what has worked in the past for one person doesn’t necessarily mean will work in the present time for you.
What are some of the biggest challenges you see for Latinx professionals early in their careers?
Access is the biggest challenge for Latinx professionals early in their careers. There are so many opportunities for Latinx professionals to succeed and thrive, but lack of awareness or information to obtain those resources holds so many talented individuals back. More established Latinx professionals can guide the younger generation towards these opportunities, but it’s up to the young professionals to step up and ask for help. So I would say encouraging Latinx professionals to ask for help is one of the biggest challenges.
How can Latinx professionals best advocate for themselves?
I think Latinx professionals can better advocate for ourselves by going out of our comfort zones and trying out new things. Supporting and encouraging Latinx voices in all professional environments should be the goal of every Latinx professional to advocate for one another.
What behavior or personality traits do you attribute to your success?
I attribute two personality traits to my success: curiosity, and persistence. One has lead me to a wide variety of new ideas and concepts to try, and the other has lead me to a level of discipline and order to continue pursuing those ideas until I succeed at them.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Since my job is currently being a student, the most rewarding part of my job is learning about new concepts and trying them out for myself. An MBA is a great time to expand and grow as a person and I’m trying to take advantage of this unique opportunity.
Which causes are you passionate about?
I’m very passionate about growing finance and investing access, using technology to improve societal issues, changing real estate and urban development to better the lives of people, and food equality in underserved communities.
