Alumnus of the Year 2025-26

Manuel Cermeño Mezikaev

Manuel Cermeño Mezikaev had a very distinguished career at our school, where he soon began to show an interest in French and mathematics, and year after year he declared himself a big fan of EA Sports FIFA football series on PlayStation. A good student, participatory and active in class and in school activities, he was much loved by his classmates and teachers. With his slow but very steady style, he moved forward with determination and chose the University of Warwick, home to the curious, the open-minded and the restless, in the multicultural city of Coventry, to continue his business studies. Four years and two exchange programmes later, in Paris and Montreal, he was ready for the world of work.

Manuel, how did the possibility of living in London come about?

London is a city full of opportunities – especially for the financial services industry – and full of great people. Ever since I started university at Warwick, London became the weekend hangout spot, not only in terms of activities or social life, but also as the hub for industry events and networking opportunities. Not to mention that the possibilities there are endless, from cultural experiences and fun activities to career development and professional growth - this city makes you feel like you are part of it immediately. Of course, having my sister there provided me with additional support necessary to take this opportunity to live in such a competitive, but welcoming city.

How is the job going? What is it that you like the most about your work?

It’s been particularly challenging, especially with markets being so volatile over the past year. That being said, this kind of environment has given me a unique opportunity to grow quickly and really deepen my understanding of the markets — particularly within the commodities space. From building risk models using programming languages such as Python, to get hands-in into day-to-day trading with an exotic asset class like commodities. Every day comes with a new challenge, and that’s what I enjoy most about the role. StoneX has also been a great place to start my career, as the level of support and mentorship I’ve received has been invaluable - without it, I wouldn’t have been able to develop as quickly or confidently as I have.

To what extent do you think that your training at ELIS facilitated your current professional life?

I truly believe it played a fundamental role in both my professional and personal growth. ELIS’ diversity gave me first-hand experience in respecting and building intercultural relationships — something that was reflected throughout my time at university and repeatedly emphasised as a valuable skill to have in multiple courses. Furthermore, the quality of the professors and the relationships I built there were ones of genuine support and mentorship, which contributed significantly to my development, both as a student and later as a professional.

What about your spare time? What do you do enjoy yourself when you’re not working?

Outside of work, I like to go to the gym, play tennis, or go bouldering with my friends. I also love food, so trying out new cuisines — or even becoming a regular at a local spot — is something I really enjoy. Whenever possible, I also like to travel and explore new places, and that definitely applies to the UK as well. With trains making it easy to get almost anywhere, planning any weekend trips is surprisingly simple. And when I’m not feeling like going outside (perhaps because of the weather…), I like to play videogames with friends and just watch shows.

Finally, where do you see yourself in a few years time?

Luckily, I got to travel a lot for work purposes - so I hope that continues and I can explore different places from both a professional and cultural perspective. In terms of my career, I hope I continue building my skills as a trader, and eventually open my own hedge fund alongside peers that I meet and network with throughout the years.

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