As one of the busiest executives in the finance industry and in the business world at large, Luigi Wewege has a host of responsibilities that include diverse roles as the CEO of Vivier & Co. and the chairman of Nikau Global. As if heading up companies such as these were not enough, Mr. Wewege is also involved in a number of other ventures as well, serving as the president of Global Business Innovations and the director of both the New Zealand China Development Group and the New Zealand Middle East Development Group. Through his leadership and expertise, Mr. Wewege has overseen consistent growth across each of his enterprises, with Vivier & Co. serving as a potent example of the efficacy of his stewardship.
Mr. Wewege’s time in the finance industry has been marked by consistent success, as Vivier & Co. has developed an international reputation for delivering substantial returns on client investments while safeguarding against any market risk volatility. As the founder of Vivier Group, Mr. Wewege has created an organization capable of providing boutique financial services, home loans, mortgages and development opportunities. Though Mr. Wewege’s many responsibilities make it hard to fathom that he has any time for other endeavors, he is also involved in several non-profit organizations, including his ongoing role as the director and trustee of Doing Good Fellows.
A graduate of the University of Missouri-Saint Louis with degrees in finance and international business and management, Mr. Wewege continued his education abroad, earning his MBA in international business from MIB School of Management, a highly regarded business school located in Trieste, Italy. Perhaps foreshadowing his immense future professional success, Mr. Wewege earned a number of academic honors while graduating cum laude and serving as the lead research assistant for a pilot study on the Federal Trade Commission while completing his undergraduate work at the University of Missouri-Saint Louis.
1. What was your best/favorite subject in school?
I always excelled in mathematics and constantly enjoyed the challenge associated with some of the more advanced coursework, but I also enjoyed several of the philosophy courses I took as electives while pursuing my undergraduate degree at UMSL.
2. What was your first job?
My first job out of college was as the managing director of OS Tires, Ltd. We supplied OTR tires on an international basis, which filled the gap in the marketplace that had created an unnecessary shortage.
3. Where and how did you first get into the industry you currently work in?
I knew before I ever enrolled at the University of Missouri-Saint Louis that I wanted to be involved in the finance industry, so I chose coursework that would best prepare me for the work I do today. I worked in management with a finance firm after my first job, and this role absolutely helped prepare me for my future responsibilities.
4. How have those jobs prepared you for what you do now?
Even though my first job was in an industry other than finance, my management responsibilities taught me the importance of strong leadership and helped me understand how to make any endeavor a success.
5. Describe the best day of work you’ve ever had.
I do a lot of international work, and one of our New Zealand-based clients requested the opportunity to host a meeting at his offices. Instead of holding the meeting indoors, he offered to take us all deep-sea fishing so we could discuss business and enjoy a bit of recreation as well. It was a very productive day from a number of standpoints, and I have to count it among one of the best workdays I have ever had.
6. How do you keep yourself motivated?
I have an intrinsic drive to succeed, but I often find additional motivation from the knowledge that our business endeavors are responsible for supporting innumerable clients and employees across the world.
7. What kind of business ideas excite you most?
While I must admit to being driven by profit, I am often most excited by the ideas that offer the possibility of positive social change.
8. Have you ever tried any unorthodox techniques to attract attention to your business?
No, nothing truly unorthodox. We believe that the work should stand for itself and that traditional strategies best reflect the image we want to convey to clients.
9. What personal achievement are you most proud of?
I try not to get caught up in personal achievements or past accomplishments all that much. I believe it is most important to adopt a forward-thinking approach to ensure continued success.
10. What wisdom would you have liked to share with yourself when you first started out?
I would tell myself to remember that a pragmatic approach can sometimes result in limiting what you are able to accomplish. Certainly there are instances in which it is best to be practical, but I think there were times early in my professional career in which I could have benefitted from aiming a bit higher than I did.