I was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, and moved to Canada at the age of seven, growing up in Mississauga, Ontario. My journey into economics began somewhat by chance, in high school when I had to choose between a politics or an economics class. The deciding factor was when the guidance counsellor said the economics teacher was also the soccer team’s coach; it was a no-brainer. I ended up really enjoying the class; everything came to me quite intuitively. Grade 11 economics was easily my favourite class of all in high school.

I pursued my undergraduate studies at the University of Guelph in the Bachelor of Commerce Finance program. I decided to further my education with a Master of Arts in Economics from UBC’s Vancouver School of Economics. UBC offered me a change of scenery and the opportunity to engage in research, culminating in multiple research papers, including a thesis I’m particularly proud of.

Professionally, I’ve explored various roles. My current position is as a Data Scientist – Economist at Deloitte’s Omnia AI team, where I blend machine learning, data science, economic modelling, and economic inference. In the past, I’ve been a research assistant at the University of British Columbia and the University of Guelph, helping with data analysis and collection. Before that, I was a teaching assistant—which I loved—at both universities. In the fall of 2022, I was the only undergraduate teaching assistant in the Department of Economics and Finance. I also worked in operations and finance alongside the CFO at a nuclear engineering firm. These experiences have equipped me with skills in economic inference and modelling, statistical analysis, machine learning, model development, and data visualization.

Outside of work, I have a range of personal interests. I’m an avid soccer enthusiast, both watching and playing the game. My love for the sport goes beyond just playing; I was the captain of my high school team due more to my tactical understanding and leadership than skill. Another passion of mine is cooking, especially pizza. I take my pizza-making very seriously, experimenting with different doughs, sauces, and techniques. I have even started an Instagram page to document my creations.

My professional philosophy is results-oriented—I believe that while I’m delivering high-quality work, all is well. As for the future, I cannot set rigid, long-term plans. I prefer dynamic goals that allow me to adapt as my interests and circumstances evolve. While it’s difficult for me to predict where I’ll be in 10 years, I approach decisions with an expected value mindset, choosing paths that seem beneficial on average in the long term.