20 Under 40: Mike Fernandez, Texas National Bank
Welcome to our 10th annual 20 Under 40 special highlight of up-and-coming leaders under the age of 40 who are making a tremendous impact in Abilene.
Name: Mike Fernandez
Age: 35
Business: Texas National Bank
Job title: Executive vice president and chief financial officer
Who is the person who most influenced you in business? It’s difficult to identify one person who has influenced me the most as I feel that where I am today is a function of each passing experience and relationship. My wife inspires me and provides me with steadfast support every step of the way. My children have invigorated within me a deep feeling of unconditional love. My parents taught me about commitment and persistence. Several professionals with whom I have worked have nurtured my curiosity and ambition.
My bank president and CEO allows me a great deal of latitude within the bank and provides me with an excellent example of how to lead an organization. My bank team has helped cultivate my sense of empathy, and our customers are a constant reminder of why I enjoy serving others. I am truly blessed to be surrounded, and to have been surrounded, by an incredible group of people in my life. I thank God every day for the experiences and relationships He has given me because each one has had some influence on my life, personally and professionally.
What is the best advice you have ever received? You can’t wait for the perfect time because it will never come.
What was the most significant hurdle you had to overcome to get where you are? In 2010, I left the best-paying job I had ever held at that point in my career. I moved from Houston, where I had a strong personal and professional network, to San Antonio, with no job, and where the only person I knew was my long-distance girlfriend (now wife) of 18 months. I enrolled in the MBA program at Texas A&M-San Antonio and worked a retail job at Restoration Hardware until I found a part-time job with the Bexar County Economic Development office I was ultimately hired into a full-time position as a credit analyst at PlainsCapital Bank and found my professional calling in banking I am an analytical person, so for me to leave my job and relationships in Houston was difficult to do. Fortunately, I got the girl and found a career that I truly enjoy.
What is the one thing you would do differently if you were just starting in this business? I would have spent time as a bank examiner so that I would have had the benefit of being inside a variety of banks with different business models and philosophies. Spending time as a bank examiner also would have allowed me the opportunity to strengthen many of the analytical skills required for running a successful bank.
What do you want to be doing in 10 years? Ten years from now I hope that my wife and I are continuing to watch and support our children in pursuit of their endeavors. I hope that we are able to spend plenty of quality family time together experiencing life and teaching our children about the world. I hope that I have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of my bank team and our customers while continuing to build upon the success of Texas National Bank.
Your family: I’ve been married to my best friend, Jenny, for six years, and we have two incredible children, a 4-year-old girl and a 20-month-old boy.
More:20 Under 40 Class of 2017