Ernesto Plata Pérez – Class of 2004

We would like to highlight Ernesto Plata Pérez, Class of 2004, in his role as Managing Director at JPMorgan Chase & Co. Ernesto, who has been working at the renowned multinational investment bank and financial services firm for more than 10 years, is an Industrial Engineer from Purdue University with studies in finance strategy from Harvard and futures and financial derivatives from the London School of Economics. We had the opportunity to speak to Ernesto about how KCP impacted his career path and what advice he would give to our KCP tigers.

How has your KCP experience impacted your life and the choices you have made in your career?

To construct a skyscraper you need a solid structure and this is exactly what KCP provides. Life is a sum of experiences from the people you meet and the things you learn throughout your journey. Being part of the KCP family gave me this, but most importantly it helped build up the confidence to leave my comfort zone, explore the world and challenge myself to think big. At KCP, the exposure to a first-world education opens you the doors to become a global citizen. Whether you get into a top school anyplace around the globe, into the headquarters of a top Corporate America firm or you decide to create your own international business, you feel empowered, well prepared, and that you belong to what you are doing.

What advice would you give KCP students? And especially those who would like to take a career path similar to yours and one day work in the field of investment banking?

If you plant a seed today by the time you graduate from college the tree will have a decent size. So start today: acquiring experiences, learning, connecting, being curious, educating yourself. Do summer courses, get motivated, apply, ask questions, start visualizing yourself in the future, and by then, you will certainly make it. Many people wait to graduate from college to start showing interest in their wall street dream job, by then unfortunately it could be too late. 

What are some of your best memories or experiences from your time at KCP? 

I really enjoyed the school’s energy and how, even though our main objective was to learn, we never stopped having fun and enjoying ourselves. 

I had a big family at KCP, we were a total of 16 between my sisters, brother, and first cousins. This made me lucky to have numerous amount of on-campus memories surrounded not only by friends but my family too.

What makes you proud to be a member of the KCP Family?

I am proud of the community that has been built, of the talent we have exported, of the impact our alumni are building up all over, and most of all, to know there are many future tigers that will conquer the globe!