How I Got Here

What did you want to be when you grew up?

My first choice was Superman, but I also wanted to be an architect, so I could build my mother a house.

EDUCATION

Rowlett High School

Rowlett, Texas, United States (1998-2002)

WORK

First job | At 14, my mother connected me with a church friend who was looking for help with his landscaping company. Every Saturday during my summers, I woke up at 5:30 a.m. to work in various yards across the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. It was a unique and cool way to learn about my hometown, and with my earnings, I saved up to cover football camp fees and even bought a CD player and books!

Citibank, Greater New York City

2006 – 2007: Financial Analyst, Investment Banking

What moments, or who, in your personal life affected the way you work?

My middle school football coach | At the time, I was on the backup squad on the football team. During the offseason, I kept working hard and finishing strong, and my coach recognized me in front of the team after a relentless session of sprints in which I was adamant about being the first one to cross the finish line after every sprint. He inspired me and warned the starters that I would replace one of them if I continued to give it my all. I felt the power of recognition in this moment and have always believed that perseverance, over time, yields fruit with patience.

My private equity partner, Jeff | I was in private equity before business school, and we had to take over an underperforming investment, which happened to be a restaurant chain. Jeff named me CFO of the company and empowered me to recruit a new management team, restructure the company and set a new trajectory for growth all before I was 30 years old. He believed in me more than I believed in myself, and because of that faith, I am excited to provide opportunities for growth and development for others, particularly if they are perceived as significant stretches.

My mother | I get my caring heart, deep investment into people and desire to do the right thing straight from her. She taught thousands of students over a successful 30-year career in education, and my goal has been to bring the level of people excellence that she delivered for three decades into my job every day.

What the best piece of advice that you've been given?

Technology is a big part of my world, as we leverage transaction data, economic data and other sources of information to inform our strategic recommendations. But, I admit, that I still hold a soft spot for the BlackBerry!

In what ways does technology play a role in your work?

Work hard, build long-lasting relationships and create value for others

Texas A&M University

Bachelor of Science, Finance College Station, Texas (2002-2006)

Do you believe in work/life balance?

Absolutely! I try to keep that balance by FaceTiming with my four nieces on Saturday mornings (nephew on the way in early December), seeing movies, reading, catching Antiques Roadshow on public television and watching football!

Adding value to the company, developing high-performing people and teams and knowing I am making a difference in others’ lives

What makes you happy?

AIG Asset Management, Houston, Texas

2007 – 2009: Investment Analyst, Global Fixed Income, Private Credit

CPP Private Equity, Houston, Texas

2009 – 2011: Private Equity Investment Professional

McKinsey & Company, Greater New York City

2013 – 2016: Strategy, Restructuring and Transformation

LBC Small Cap, Greater New York City

2016 – 2018: Managing Director

Taco Bell, Irvine, California

2020 – Present: Global Chief Financial Officer

Leviathan was a hard worker, continuous learner, vivid dreamer and fearless natural leader who brought out the best in others to ensure everyone succeeded.

If we were to interview your teachers, what would they say about you?

Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Master’s of Business Administration Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2011-2013)

What do people think you do versus what you actually do?

People think I count the money. What I actually do is partner with each of the amazing members of the Taco Bell executive team to come up with solutions and strategies to drive our business forward, ensure we are putting great food in the hands of our millions of our fans and do so in a profitable way.

JPMorgan Chase & Co., New York City

2018 – 2020: Head of Transformation Management Office 2019 – 2020: Head of Strategic Development

How do you do it?

Excellently, because I believe I owe it to the world and those coming after me