Taking calculated risks

How Kevin Vaez (MBA ‘02) broke out of his comfort zone to a career leading finance at global PR agency Ketchum.

Growing up in Toronto, Canada, Kevin Vaez (MBA ‘02) was surrounded by people who followed a predictable path: attend a local university, get a job in the same area and stay put. It was a place where nobody left, and everyone thought he was crazy for wanting something different. But Vaez couldn’t wait to escape what was familiar, and in doing so, it would become the defining characteristic of his career and personal journey.

“I was an anomaly for leaving Toronto,” he said. “But now, looking back, [leaving to attend UF] was one of the best decisions I ever made.”

Even before starting his undergraduate degree, Vaez knew he wanted to pursue an MBA.

“I knew that if I fast-forwarded 10 to 15 years in the future, [an MBA] would lead me to where I wanted to be,” he said. “It would open all the right doors.”

With that in mind, a personal connection to someone who had attended the University of Florida for their MBA had Vaez intrigued about the Gainesville-based institution. Though he knew nothing about the program initially, his research revealed the University of Florida as the top-ranked option in the state.

The application process required an in-person interview in Gainesville, and that visit changed everything. After meeting with current students and professors, Vaez recalls walking back to his rental car with a distinct feeling that it was the right place for him. 

“It was exactly where I wanted to be,” he said. “It was something different, but it just felt right.”

Vaez’ gut feeling turned out to be right, and his University of Florida MBA experience exceeded his expectations. 

“I like to think that I attended a great undergraduate school, but the professors [at UF] were second to none,” he reflected. 

Vaez credits the two years he spent with UF’s talented business faculty with developing his ability to think broadly and outside the box, skills that would prove invaluable throughout his career.

Always looking for his next challenge, after graduating with his MBA, Vaez moved with his now wife, a UF nursing graduate, to the city he’s called home ever since – Chicago. Vaez’ first opportunity came in a finance role at United Airlines before he moved into working with advertising & PR holding companies. Vaez spent five years in finance at WPP before being recruited to his current company. 

For the past decade, Vaez has been with Ketchum, one of the top five public relations firms globally. Ketchum, owned by Omnicom – a company with 75,000 employees worldwide – partners with major global companies to provide PR solutions. In his current role as VP Finance, Vaez oversees two of the firm’s biggest industries and serves as regional CFO for the Canada operation, responsible for everything from pricing to financial planning and analysis to month-end accounting.

“I’m excited about being able to elevate the finance product that we deliver,” he said of his role. “I’ve always been the kind of leader that comes in and wants to take things to the next level. I don’t just want to keep doing what the last person did.”

As someone who benefitted from moving out of his comfort zone, his advice to other professionals is simple but powerful: work hard, identify your goals and don’t be afraid to take calculated risks. 

“I’ve seen so many people who are afraid of moving out of their comfort zone and don’t take any risks,” he said. “But, it’s taking those calculated risks that elevates you both personally and professionally in life. I grew up in a place where nobody left and everybody thought I was crazy to leave, but I wouldn’t be where I’m at today otherwise.”