INTERNATIONAL EXPERTISE

Fernando Guardia ’10 VSB attributes the well-rounded education he received from VSB to his successes in Global Treasury at Credit Suisse, and now as CFO of Grupo Cochez. Growing up in Panama, Guardia values the exposure Villanova gave him to diverse groups of people, and says that “knowing a diverse group at Villanova helped me start my career in New York City.” He also reflects fondly on the hands-on opportunities students are afforded in the VSB classroom to apply the fundamentals of finance and accounting to real-life situations. Guardia still references these classroom experiences today when working on a team, speaking to stakeholders, and staying flexible when things don’t go as planned. 

Guardia interned with and began his career at Credit Suisse where he worked in Liquidity Management within Global Treasury. This experience allowed him to gain an in-depth understanding of the big picture operations of a business. Guardia worked in this role in NYC, London, and Singapore, and was prepared for these global experiences from his study abroad experience in Melbourne during his sophomore year at VSB. Now, as CFO of a much smaller company, Grupo Cochez, he deals with everything from bookkeeping and payroll to investor relations and the legal department, all the while maintaining and enhancing the overall financial health of the business. Guardia attributes his ability to communicate succinctly with investors to the communications courses he took at VSB, and that this imperative skill is one that he often has to teach fellow employees. Guardia explains that the more senior he gets in his career, the more valuable these communication courses are to his everyday responsibilities. 

Guardia advises current VSB students to “never turn down an opportunity to meet someone, talk to someone, or do an interview.” He emphasizes the importance of every conversation in expanding your knowledge about a company and providing you valuable practice with your interpersonal skills. Guardia also encourages students to reach out to Villanova alumni, and to form connections through classes, professors, and the Career Center. He is grateful for the educational and social opportunities that the Villanova community has provided him, and states that he would not be where he is today without his fellow Wildcats.