Daniel Pinto, President and Chief Operating Officer of JPMorgan Chase and Chief Executive Officer of J.P. Morgan’s Corporate & Investment Bank, started his career at JPMC heritage firm Manufacturers Hanover when he was at university, after serving in the military in Argentina. He shared the four guiding principles that have driven his career decisions and ultimate success, at a Hispanic Heritage event for employees earlier this month.

1. Have immediate aspirations so that you're working towards something that is achievable.

2. Be ambitious, but set reasonable expectations so that you don't get frustrated. Careers are not linear. There are periods where you grow, periods where you consolidate, and then the next opportunity comes along and you move up again. You need to be patient during the ups and downs. Some people get anxious and jump from one place to another and never end up progressing.

3. Ask yourself if the company you're working at aligns with your values. Does the culture meet your standards? Is it a company at which you want to develop a career?

4. Take risks. At a company like J.P. Morgan, you are going to have many opportunities for career development. It's up to you to take advantage of those opportunities, which can sometimes seem risky.

Pinto also touched on how his Hispanic background impacted his career. When he moved from Mexico where he was living and working in the early 1990s to London – what he calls the best career decision he ever made – he said it was a culture shock and the language barrier was difficult, but he never let his accent or background impede his career. He doesn’t think those things impacted the opportunities he was given. He believes that if you are confident in yourself and trust that you're worthy of the job, you will succeed.

Pinto also highlighted how important it is as a company to have a diverse population to be able to best serve clients who are global and diverse. He also emphasized the importance of recruiting individuals with diverse education and experience, who can help drive innovation, and always striving to hire the best talent, regardless of background. 

“Our business and our company will continue to thrive if we cast a wide net and hire the best,” he said.