Mirko Cauci, JPMorgan Chase

Curated by VSM Alumni, March 2026

What lessons or values from your university years do you still carry with you in your work today?
I attribute much of my education, entrepreneurial mindset, and my appreciation for fully embracing the place where I live to my university years, thanks to the unique environment of Venice and Ca’ Foscari. First of all, the rigorous curriculum in business administration, combined with a solid foundation in economics, mathematics, and decision-making, still gives me an advantage today in understanding how organizations work.
Second, I benefited from an international campus that encourages student associations and entrepreneurial initiatives. I look back very fondly on the time spent growing Invenicement and launching the Venice Microfinance Initiative.
Finally, I am grateful to have moved to Venice and lived in such a unique city, building friendships both within the university and beyond campus. I miss the irreplaceable atmosphere it offered, and for that reason I always try to make the most of wherever I live—culturally, socially, and economically.

In an increasingly globalized job market, what skills do you consider essential for those who want to work in strategy or finance abroad?
Strategy is about asking the right questions and demonstrating structure, discipline, flexibility, and commitment. For this reason, the discipline itself has the advantage of transcending time and context.
When you apply a global perspective to business strategy, the range of options grows exponentially. Is my supply chain diversified and global? Should I expand into a new country? How do regulations work there compared to here? How can I evolve my workforce? What can I learn from companies on the other side of the world?
Curiosity, openness to innovation, and dynamic thinking truly make a difference. Financial services are no exception. Payment markets and consumer regulations differ significantly between the United States, the European Union, or India. Wealth management is at different stages of maturity depending on the region. Even corporate financing preferences vary, with long-term infrastructure projects in some parts of the world and a stronger focus on short-term returns in others.
If these questions and examples spark your interest, I recommend learning how different markets have evolved across countries and developing a mindset that constantly asks: What does all this mean for what I can build or achieve in the future?

When did you realize that international experience would truly make a difference in your career?
My exchange program during my undergraduate studies at the University of Melbourne marked the beginning of my international journey. I’m grateful to Ca’ Foscari for offering such a wide range of exchange opportunities, from Erasmus programs in Europe to destinations further afield.
I spent six months in Melbourne, where I experienced an Anglo-Saxon approach to studying, graduating, and entering the job market. I also built friendships with people from all over the world—many of whom I’m still close with today.
After that experience, I knew I wanted to continue my studies abroad and start my career in a new country. I moved to the United States to attend the University of Rochester, relocated to New York after completing my master’s degree, and I haven’t left since.

What has been the biggest challenge of working in an international environment, and what did it teach you?
Work is work. If you are prepared and motivated, choose good managers and partners, and frequently challenge the status quo, things tend to unfold naturally.
The biggest challenge for me has been becoming an adult abroad independently—balancing work and passions, finding the right time to visit family and lifelong friends, reflecting on long-term life decisions, settling down, and building a family
Even though I have friends in similar situations, certain decisions are easier when someone in your family has already gone through them before you. In my case, I was the first.

How important has building relationships and networks been for your professional journey?
Building a network is fundamental in anyone’s career, and the earlier you start, the better.
The people I met helped me especially at the beginning of my career: understanding different career paths, connecting with opportunities, and learning about the culture of companies and teams. However, I realize that the benefits grow as you progress professionally.
Today, knowing people with similar or different paths—people I can rely on and who can rely on me—helps me understand which professional directions I want or do not want to pursue, how to think like a leader, and above all how to build a life in New York while balancing career and passions.
Networking is reciprocal, and differences in seniority tend to fade over time.

What advice would you give to young people taking their first steps toward an international career?
Try—and you won’t regret it, regardless of the outcome.
Most Ca’ Foscari students are Italian or European citizens, fortunate to have a strong “plan B.” For us, pursuing international opportunities always comes with the knowledge that we can return to a strong economy and apply what we learned abroad.
I have several Italian friends who studied or worked abroad and now continue their careers in Italy. One hundred percent of them say that the international experience has paid off.
And if you are not part of the majority and came to Ca’ Foscari from another country, congratulations—you are already doing exactly this. In the long run, you will not regret it.

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