A day in the life of Tochi Ugo-Beke, Product Specialist

Tochi was born in Lagos, Nigeria but moved to Cambridge when he was 13 years old. He has a degree in Geology and a Masters in Petroleum Geoscience. Tochi started off his professional career at Oando Energy Resources and now works as a Product Specialist at Vortexa. Prior to joining Vortexa, Tochi worked at Morgan Stanley as a Commodity Structurer where he priced and executed trades in oil, gas and electricity markets. Fun fact: Tochi has spent 30 days mapping imbricates in the Scottish Highlands.

What does day-to-day life in your role look like?

I ensure our clients, partners and prospects are able to maximise the value from our product and services. 

What would you say is the most interesting aspect of your role?

Building and nurturing client relationships, understanding the ever changing priorities of a diverse group of market participants and contributing to the evolution of our products.  

What was your path to joining Vortexa? 

I began my career working in oil and gas exploration and production, then transitioned to working on the trading floor in Morgan Stanley as a Commodity Structurer. Coincidentally, I joined Vortexa shortly after Morgan Stanley’s Series C investment in Vortexa.

What kind of qualities does a person need to have to succeed at Vortexa?

A proactive individual, problem solver and a good translator - Vortexa comprises people from lots of different backgrounds so being able to speak to different perspectives within the company is essential.

What do you like about the culture? 

Everyone is very collaborative, seniority is rarely a factor in conversations and someone is always willing to listen to what you have to say.

Who do you collaborate with?

Mainly with our product development, sales and analysis teams.

What are the first three things you do on a Monday morning?

Coffee, emails and slack. The magic formula for a good week!

What energises you most about working as a Product Specialist at Vortexa?

I get to interact with a huge range of clients and understand their use cases - meaning there is always something new to learn.