Luiz Cazares ’18 knows the pivotal role Brooklyn College alumni played in shaping his professional journey. The guidance and support he received exposed him to the finance industry and provided him with invaluable coaching and role models. Cazares, an assistant vice president at Barclays Bank, now donates his time and money, hoping to create opportunities for today’s students.

In our candid discussion, Cazares delves into the unconventional path that led him to his major, his determination to excel, his fulfilling role as a mentor, and his hopes for other alumni like him to be inspired to donate time and money.

Can you tell us about your background?

I’m Mexican American. I grew up in Queens. I went to school in different areas of the borough—primary school in Ozone Park and middle school in Southside Jamaica. I was the first person in my family to graduate college. In high school, I didn’t have a good idea of what I wanted to do; it was about making sure I passed, which I did with the support of my parents.

Once I enrolled in Brooklyn College, I still had the same mindset; I was getting a degree because it was part of the system. To be frank, I picked a random major. Accounting was at the top of the list alphabetically, so I told myself I’d do accounting and finance and see where it took me.

What made you stay in the business major?

Martin Sass ’63 greets students at an Investment Institute event.

Again, coming from an immigrant community, I didn’t have anyone to anchor to; no one in my immediate family was working in banking, finance, or professional services. I was curious to know what that looked like. Internships through the college at UBS and Brooklyn College Career Partner PwC showed me what it took to be a professional through real-world experience.

One of my mentors, Elliot Tannenbaum ’73, a retired accounting and tax executive, provided a starting point. He showed me soft skills, small things like networking, and even tips on how to have a more professional appearance. He saw some raw talent in me; I certainly didn’t see it in myself at first.

I also got to be part of a student-run hedge fund through the M.D. Sass Investment Institute at the college. That got me interested, and I thought that finance was something that I’d like to pursue. The internships and the program were jumping-off points for my career.

A career that has landed you in the role of assistant vice president at Barclays Bank.

Yes. My job at Barclays is to assess risks around the treasury and liquidity. For instance, do we have sufficient funds to cover some of our short-term needs as a bank and sufficient funds to meet different stress scenarios? Do we have the right assets? It’s about assessing and understanding risks and how we govern those scenarios.

Who has benefited you, as an alum, in your chosen career and what now motivates you to give back?

Paid internships are often funded by alumni like me who give what they can. I’m inspired to donate as much money and time as possible because I know how vital the internships that I participated in were—at USB and PwC.

Many students need to work while going to school. I was working while attending Brooklyn College, but I was blessed to be able to take a pay cut, leave my job, and do an internship because my parents were able to help financially. Some students may not have the chance to do that.

I’d like to see my donations help a student take three months and do an internship, allowing that person to have different experiences, grow, branch out, and find what they love to do and are good at. That is why I’d like to encourage my fellow alums, including recent graduates—they don’t have to be far along in their careers—to give what they can.

What about your life outside of work? Do you have any hobbies or pastimes you’d like to share?

I enjoy jogging, hiking, going to the gym, the outdoors, and helping around the house; I live with my parents and other family members. Beyond that, it is hard to find time for additional pastimes because I have nephews running around at home, and I gladly help with them whenever possible. One is seven, and the other just turned six. I don’t know if this is a hobby, but I spend a good hour or so every day studying with one or the other.

So, you’re the fun uncle?

Yes, but I’m serious when it comes to studying. I started doing this last year. I go to the bookstore and get a big book on all the topics, whether it’s English, writing, math, or science, and I try to do at least two or three pages a day with one of them. When I was growing up, no one was able to do that with me—anything outside of school, I had to teach myself. So, I try to be there for my nephews as they learn.

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about you?

Only that I’m just a regular kid from Queens.