The Executive-in-Residence program brings experienced business leaders, many of them FIU Business graduates, to campus. They share career lessons, provide invaluable guidance, and serve as an inspiration for students, many of whom seek to follow in their footsteps.
Manuel J. Perez de la Mesa (BBA ’77), president and CEO of PoolCorp, the world’s largest distributor of swimming pool and related products, told students that communications skills and the ability to build a strong team are the true keys to leadership. In his September 2015 lecture, he shared his journey, from his life as a child of an immigrant family to the leadership of a public company with $2 billion in sales. He urged students to pursue opportunities even if they seemed beyond their grasp. Perez worked days and studied nights while at FIU, and his professors shared real-life business experiences that helped him integrate both worlds: “They not only taught the subject matter, but gave live examples. These individuals helped me connect the dots.”
John Zamora (BAcc ’94, MAcc ’96), national managing partner of Deloitte, told students at an October 2015 visit to campus that the discipline he learned while juggling multiple responsibilities during his years at FIU was essential to his success. “Working and going to school was really hard, but it helped me prepare for life,” he said, noting that he now looks for the same skills when he recruits. Zamora also shared his thoughts on the future of the accounting profession and urged students to add technology and data analytics skills to their financial education.
David A. Rocker, retired hedge fund manager and a two-time Harvard University graduate, delivered a thought-provoking February 2014 lecture, “Sometimes You Are the Dog and Sometimes You Are the Tree: The Politics of Youth.” Rocker, who founded a hedge fund and retired after two decades in the business, drew students’ attention to a future made more challenging by limited financial resources and demands of special interest groups. He urged students to unite to advocate for situations that will benefit them. “Young people need to pay attention,” he said.