Q&A with Martin Yzaga: Supporting investment into Latin America through Macquarie’s Graduate Program

Martin Yzaga joined the Graduate Program in 2023 and is currently an Analyst for the Latin America Private Credit team in Macquarie’s Commodities and Global Markets business. He focuses on delivering structured financing solutions for clients across multiple industries, including oil and gas, infrastructure, telecom and healthcare. 

What inspired you to pursue a career in finance at Macquarie?

When deciding where I wanted to start my career, I was drawn to the investments Macquarie was making in Latin America (LatAm) and the opportunity to work on projects that align with my values. Joining the LatAm Private Credit team provided a fantastic opportunity for me to play a direct role in delivering innovative capital solutions in the region, which has a huge amount of untapped growth potential.

Growing up in Latin America meant I really valued the importance of capital to the development of strategic projects that drive community and economic growth. I was especially interested in the concept of connecting capital with ideas to make them possible for our clients and partners and wanted to learn more about how to critically think about investments and the overall profitability of projects.

Whether it is exploring new products, markets or even expanding into different geographies, I feel empowered to have a 360-degree understanding of how we do business and the underlying risks. Throughout the Graduate Program and my time on the team, I have developed the skills to assess and identify risk when exploring new industries.

What does a typical day look like for you?

At Macquarie, I feel supported in taking on challenges and new tasks each day – including leading transactions – much more than I would expect to as a first-year analyst. With supportive oversight, I am given the freedom and trust to learn by doing, which I find to be the most effective way of learning. Whether it’s building a financial model, putting together marketing materials for transactions, or presenting to investors, I am encouraged to step up and take on new challenging tasks.

To balance work with my health and wellbeing, I make sure to organise my day in a way that maximises productivity during work hours while also allowing time for myself. I like to start my day with exercise, whether it is going for a run or going to the gym. Movement is a way I take care of my physical and mental health.

How does Macquarie invest in your career?

Working in smaller, cross-functional teams at Macquarie presents an opportunity for me to get broad exposure to various transactions and learn at a fast pace. As a graduate, the flat team structure provides an opportunity for a great degree of responsibility early on and direct exposure to the people leading the business, which is fantastic from a learning perspective.

I felt this culture of support during my internship and it was one of the reasons I applied to the graduate program. I scheduled several coffee chats with people in different groups and teams to learn more about their role at Macquarie. I even had the opportunity to separately sit down for lunch with two of CGM’s most senior managers, including the Head of the Americas.

What’s possible for your career at Macquarie?

As a global organisation, Macquarie offers exposure for new graduates to different markets. After successfully completing my summer internship at Macquarie in 2022, I was able to reflect on the deals and projects that I worked on and their broader societal impact. Excited by the challenge, I decided to come back as a full-time Analyst after graduating.

In my first year, I’ve worked on two transactions in the oil and gas sector in Colombia. Both projects involved deploying capital to develop midstream assets and infrastructure in the natural gas space, which is key for the country’s energy self-sufficiency and energy transition.

As a graduate, I was also introduced to multiple industries and markets that Macquarie has presence in and collaborated with teams in Brazil, London and Australia allowing me to expand my network within the company.

What advice would you have for students looking to pursue a career in finance?

I would recommend prioritizing networking – joining finance clubs and organizations at your university can be a beneficial way of connecting with people looking to pursue a similar career path. They provide a great forum for sharing ideas, holding yourself accountable and helping yourself and others during the recruiting process.

I would also encourage them to not feel discouraged if they haven't pursued a finance related major at school. While it can be useful, it is not a requirement. Most of the concepts can be learned on the job and it’s the right attitude, discipline, and support that put you on track for success.