Interview with an MSc alum: Juan's story

We asked our recent MSc Mathematical Finance graduate Juan Carlos Ramirez Cano a series of questions to find out more about his journey before and during his studies here at WBS, sharing tips and new skills he learnt that have been useful in his first job since graduating.

Tell us about yourself and your background.

I’m Juan, I graduated with a MSc Mathematical Finance degree from WBS in 2022. I’ve always been a curious person, always keen to learn new things and meet new people. Before WBS, I studied my bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science at the Universidad de las Americas Puebla in Mexico. After graduating from WBS, I joined Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) as a Quantitative Analyst.

Why did you decide to study at WBS?

I needed somewhere that would provide rigorous training in mathematical finance, give me an opportunity to expose myself to different perspectives, and make me feel part of a community. After extensive research, it seemed clear that WBS would offer all of this and more.

The chance to work with people with such different backgrounds and perspectives, coupled with the opportunities provided by the CareersPlus team made my final decision a simple one.

How did your course set you up for your first business role?

I have used a lot of the expertise learnt during the course, from technical skills such as programming, stochastic calculus, and statistical learning, to soft skills - such as working in an international environment, and managing my time during intensive learning seasons.

Dealing with tight deadlines and learning to communicate complex topics with our peers was also vital, as well as the ability to understand advanced stochastic models.

What does your company do?

BBVA Corporate & Investment banking is the biggest bank in Mexico. We help institutions and corporate entities optimise their investment, trading, financial, and operational transactions. My team contributes to this goal by developing quantitative solutions with the task of pricing financial derivatives, managing risks, and providing insight to our trading desks.

What does your job involve?

My current position is a mix of the two main branches of the field, Quant modelling and Quant development. I read (and gladly understand thanks to my MSc), test, and implement recent papers on Quant finance. At the same time, I develop and implement trading tools, learning best programming practices in the process.

How was your experience with the WBS CareersPlus team?

They were extremely helpful with CV reviews and career orientation. They considered my existing four years of experience and suggested a range of paths to take - whether I wanted to remain in the UK or return to Mexico.

What’s next for you?

I feel very motivated to keep enhancing the skills I developed at WBS as they are pivotal for my current role. I’m also looking for opportunities to improve my entrepreneurial skills, and increase my contribution to my community.

Advice for anyone considering a Masters at WBS?

Do your research and speak to alumni – there are no silly questions. If you’re like me, choosing WBS will be the right selection both academically and socially, you’ll make great friends and business contacts here. Most importantly, be excited, and enjoy it!

Find out more about the student experience at Warwick Business School by reading our Postgraduate blogs, or discover more about Juan’s course: MSc Mathematical Finance on our course webpages.