Igor Portugal: The accidental CEO: when startups, divorce, and M&A collide!

Igor Portugal spent two decades mastering markets—leading hedge fund strategies and managing billions in capital. But when the industry no longer aligned with his values, he made a rare move in finance: a voluntary, intentional exit. No dramatic blow-up. Just a calculated decision to leave while ahead.

In this episode, we unpack how to know when it’s time to exit, the strategy behind leaving a high-performing career, and why Igor believes your best trade might be walking away. Whether you're planning your next move or rethinking what long-term success looks like, this conversation is a masterclass in exiting on your own terms.

Book Recommendations

• "Unasked Questions" by Igor Portugal
• "The Goal" by Eliyahu M. Goldratt - Structural inspiration for Igor’s book.
• "The Phoenix Project" by Gene Kim - Another narrative-style business book model.
• "Five Dysfunctions of a Team" by Patrick Lencioni - A reference point for narrative-driven business learning.
• "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand - Referenced for its philosophical style that inspired Igor's earlier novel idea.
• "On Writing" by Stephen King - Recommended by Igor for anyone learning the writing craft. Described as “an amazing book” for aspiring authors .
• "Economical Writing" - My recommendation for improving sentence-level technical writing.

🎙️ Podcasts for Writers

• Fiction Author Business School by Lizelle Hill - Igor binged the entire podcast and considers her a key inspiration.
• The Self-Publishing School Podcast by Chandler Bolt - Tips on self-publishing, writing motivation, and strategy.
• The Creative Penn Podcast by Joanna Penn - Offers guidance on both creative writing and self-publishing.

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