Yale ICF Advisory Board Member Spotlight: Juan Carlos García (P '22)

What is your current role and industry?

I’m a Managing Director of Quadrant Capital Advisors, Inc., a New York-based institutional investment firm with long-term interests in consumer goods companies globally, among others. I oversee a portfolio of direct minority investments in publicly-traded and private companies globally, manage an Investment Grade-rated European affiliate and serve on the Board of Directors or Advisors of several portfolio companies, among other responsibilities.

How did you get into this field?

I have always been focused on finance, having co-founded an investment banking advisory firm at 23 years old with experienced partners and having led several billion dollars of M&A transactions within a few years. I was then asked to join Bavaria, an international beer company, as Corporate V.P. M&A and Planning.  Since then, I have led Quadrant’s role in the successor position in the global beer industry across several mergers; have deployed capital in a portfolio of long-term equity investments; and have overseen corporate finance transactions including acquisitions, divestments and equity and debt issuances.

What are the biggest challenges and opportunities that professionals in your industry face today?

Corporate Finance has materially evolved in the last 25 years. The regulatory environment of investment and I-Banking firms reduced profitability and exercises continuous pressure on returns; therefore on compensation. Several product lines are becoming commoditized or being replaced by lower-cost tools. In this context, attracting, retaining, compensating and motivating talent continues to be the focus for buy-side and I-banking firms. For professionals, challenges include developing professional interests in areas/sectors that are long-term value creators (especially in the context of continuous disruption) as well as building attractive career paths that align personal values and life choices with sound firms.

In my experience, there is always room for high value-added strategic thinking, Board-level insight on strategic and capital structure decisions, and efficient allocation of capital to the right companies. At a more junior level, I have always considered that opportunities present themselves to individuals with integrity, a high and collaborative work ethic, mastery of technical skills and -especially- industry/product or thought leadership.

Where do you see the industry going in the future?

Capital deployment will always be part of the economy and will attract talented firms and professionals. Shorter term investors (including hedge funds) will continue to attract capital and talent, but returns may be volatile and cycles of capital inflows and outwill will likely continue. Additionally, dispersion of returns will continue to create a tiered industry with a smaller proportion of winners (with increasing scale each), a large proportion of average performers and a long tail of low risk-adjusted return investors. I think longer term institutional investors and permanent capital vehicles will continue to gain importance as favored by co-investors and investees.

What advice do you have for someone new to the industry?

My advice is to develop the highest work ethic from day one and focus on collaborating horizontally and vertically. It is also important to create and nurture networks within the firm and in industries or regions you are either working in, or attracted to for the future. Also, select your employer based on the firm’s accomplishments, medium term prospects and its ability to create value, instead of short term compensation or other shinny attributes. Use every opportunity to learn and make positive contributions to individuals, teams and the firm, even if -and particularly when- there’s no immediate reward.