Today we’d like to introduce you to Luisa Angulo.
Hi Luisa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Perseverance and discipline. I was born and raised in Colombia, and my parents taught me to look further, explore, and let go. I got my first job in high school as a server at a local restaurant chain. It was my first experience acting independently and I am thankful that my parents allowed me to do it. At 14, I learned about the value of teamwork, how to deal with difficult clients and colleagues, and how to react when I made a mistake.
When I came to the US in 2005, I opened the first of many life-changing opportunities, or what I call “pivots” that have taken me to where I am today. As a college junior, I had the chance to transfer schools from Bogota to UC Santa Cruz, where I graduated with a Business and Economics degree. I started working for the public sector in Washington DC, to quickly realize it was not what I expected.
In 2008 I moved to NYC looking for a job in finance, needless to say, it was the midst of the financial crisis – I struggled to find a position in my field. Thanks to my waitress skills, I got a job at a sports bar in Manhattan the day I landed, which allowed me to support myself financially through a rough time. I finally got a part-time job at a small consulting firm and kept working both jobs for a while.
I was finding it difficult to build a professional network, so I got in contact with an organization called Upwardly Global. I am forever thankful for the work they did and continue to do today. They showed me how to write a resume in the single page “US format”, trained me with mock interviews, and prepared me to go job hunting. I was also paired with a mentor who worked in the financial industry and encouraged me to request informational interviews. My second pivot.
A few months and several networking events later, I got hired as an analyst by a large financial institution and moved to Miami to support their Latam coverage team. I worked as an advisor for families and financial groups within the Private Bank division. I was fortunate to have great colleagues, mentors, and clients, to learn from.
After almost 10 years with the bank, my then-friend and now also business partner walked me through my latest pivot: she asked if I wanted to be an entrepreneur and build our own financial consulting firm together (aka Family Office). July 2022 was our 4th anniversary as Beyond Consulting. It’s been both challenging and rewarding, but if I had to do it again, I would not change a thing.
Side projects:
My story would not be complete without mentioning that I am a scuba instructor. I’ve always loved the ocean and this passion was only intensified when I moved to Miami. This city allows me to spend weekends sharing my interest with friends, colleagues, and family.
As I started going on diving trips around the world, I couldn’t help to become concerned for the health of our oceans. This propelled me to create a non-profit focused on awareness about waste, recycling, and sustainability. My involvement with the recycling industry led me to become a partner and board member of a business venture called My Ecobox.
My Ecobox strives to serve as a network of reverse vending machines that receive empty containers and provide an incentive to consumers in return for their recycling efforts. I still enjoy my participation in this venture, as I can use my finance skills to help the company improve our environment and quality of life.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
A bumpy road! I’ll share a few struggles. I had very basic English skills when I got to college in California, I felt shy and insecure, but that only meant I had to work harder. My lifelong plan of working for the public sector was not what I expected, so I had to quickly shift my focus to an industry I had never thought of. I had a 4-page resume when I started looking for a job!
As an immigrant, I felt disadvantaged for not knowing how to “sell” myself in interviews. I was fortunate to find an organization to help me with that process. There have been many more bumps, but I truly believe that struggles make me appreciate what matters in life. They help me measure success. My family and friends are a huge driver, and having this impressive support system makes the journey more enjoyable.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Beyond Consulting is a multidisciplinary boutique consulting firm. We help high-net-worth families preserve or build a legacy of success that positively transcends society. We promote trust, integrity, and responsibility, empowering families with knowledge and awareness development. Our purpose is to contribute to the sustainable progress of society by enhancing the ability of families to succeed.
Our main services include:
Asset consolidation services
Portfolio management and financial advisory
Wealth planning guidance
Bookkeeping and back-office support
Supervision of third-party providers
Family governance
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I often say that I only regret the things I don’t do. In my life, risk has presented itself to get me outside of my comfort zone, leaving my home country very young or quitting a well-paid job to explore an unknown path with the prospect of flexibility, growth, and independence. I don’t consider myself reckless. I do my best to understand the consequences of my actions before making a decision, especially if they involve other people’s lives.
As a financial advisor, I have also learned to look at different features of risk. Risk is completely personal, based on individual perspective, reality, and circumstances. Stepping into someone’s shoes to understand their risk appetite is an important part of my job as a financial advisor. I highly value the input of my clients and colleagues in this respect. Besides work, although I enjoy extreme sports such as parachuting, snowboarding, surfing, scuba, and freediving, I always practice them responsibly and with caution – with helmets on!
Contact Info:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisaangulo
Image Credits
Jaffy shoot, Miami Agalux, and Lima
