Life at Klar with our Head of Finance, Juan C Sarmiento
Short intro about yourself
Hi, my name is Juan C Sarmiento, Head of Finance at Klar. I’m originally from Bogotá, Colombia where I lived until finishing high school. I then moved to the U.S. to study at Stanford University, earning a bachelor’s in Operations Research and Data Analytics and a master’s in Financial Risk Analytics. After graduating, I co-founded a startup that developed credit models with two friends from college. We worked with originators in Latam and the U.S. to improve their underwriting capabilities. Klar was one of our clients, and after seeing the successful results, we decided to join forces. In my free time, I like playing soccer, squash, padel, reading, and hanging out with family and friends.
Why have you decided to join Klar in the first place?
We first worked with Klar as providers of their credit models, and over just a few months, I got to witness Klar’s impressive growth. We saw a strong team that was tackling a huge opportunity with great traction. There was still a lot of work ahead, but that’s what made it exciting - the chance to help Klar overcome challenges and scale into a truly generational company.
What is the most exciting part of your role at Klar?
The part of my job I enjoy most is interacting with all the teams at Klar, pushing them to meet the goals we’ve set for the company. My days range from reviewing portfolio metrics with the credit team to discussing conversion with the growth team. The work of every team is ultimately reflected in our financial statements, and it's my responsibility to ensure we’re all aligned and working toward our objectives. Each team directly impacts our results, and my role is to help them recognize that and strive to improve the company's outcomes.
And what’s been the best part of working from Klar’s Mexico office?
The best part of working from Klar’s Mexico City office is being immersed in the city's vibrant ecosystem. The energy here is contagious, from the growing fintech scene to the dynamic culture that surrounds us. I'm constantly motivated by my teammates, who bring a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm to the table, pushing me to learn and grow every day. The collaborative spirit and shared vision make every challenge exciting. Plus, Mexico City's unique blend of tradition and innovation provides the perfect backdrop for creativity and progress, making it a truly inspiring place to work.
What motivates your daily work at Klar?
What motivates me daily at Klar is the opportunity to be part of a strong, driven team working toward ambitious goals. We're not just building a company; we're creating something that can reshape both the present and future of digital banking in Mexico. The potential to provide millions of people with better financial services keeps me excited about the work we do. It’s an ambitious goal with lots of challenges but those challenges ahead are what makes the journey so rewarding.
Can you tell us about your career journey at Klar?
When my co-founders and I first joined Klar, we were in charge of building and deploying credit models. We worked end to end, from data exploration and feature engineering to training the models and implementing the credit policies that leveraged them. As the team grew, I began to specialize in measuring and projecting the profitability of our efforts which led me to collaborate with the finance team. I now lead the finance team while also managing the credit team overseeing unit economics, provisions, and portfolio tracking.
What’s been your most exciting project at Klar, and why?
I’ve had a few exciting projects at Klar, but two stand out: the first model deployment and working on a new funding round. The first was thrilling because, after years of working for Klar and other companies as a provider, we were finally on the other side of the table. We had full control of the data, tools, and all the necessary components to make the project a success. The second project highlights my current role, as I get to leverage my entire career at Klar. Investors—both existing and prospective—want to understand our performance and what the future holds. Taking part in those conversations is always exciting.
How would you describe Klar’s culture and work environment?
At Klar, we value doers—people who take ownership and drive projects forward. Our culture emphasizes collaboration, where everyone is an analyst, contributing ideas and insights regardless of their role. We foster a high-performing yet supportive environment, where challenges are met with teamwork and innovation. While we strive for excellence, we also understand that failure and mistakes are part of the process. We encourage risk-taking and learning from errors, as it's how we grow both individually and as a company. This combination of ambition, ownership, and a growth mindset defines Klar’s unique and empowering work environment.
