Gracias, Papi.

From an early age, my father instilled in me the importance of integrity and ethics. Central to these lessons was the belief that the greater good is more important than one's ego. He taught me that the right decisions might not always be the most popular ones, but they should always be in pursuit of doing the right thing. Little did he know, these principles would become the cornerstone of my leadership style throughout my career and personal life. "The end doesn't justify the means. How you reach your goals matters. Always do the right thing," my father would say. This mantra encouraged transparency and integrity, allowing me to rest easy at night.

My father, Renato Meyer, is an Argentine, the son of German Jews who fortuitously fled Nazi Germany before World War II and settled in Paraná, a city roughly 300 miles north of Buenos Aires. Renato became the first Paraná resident to join the American Field Service, embarking on a 1-year exchange program in the U.S. in 1959 during his senior year of high school. He later spent a semester abroad in Germany during his college years. In 1971, he married my mother, Silvia Francese, and I was born a year later, the eldest of three children. My sister Vanesa now resides in Key Biscayne, while my brother Rolando keeps our family presence strong in Buenos Aires.

Raised in Argentina, I attended a German school from kindergarten through twelfth grade. My father's wanderlust was passed down to me, affording me the opportunity to study abroad for two semesters—first in Germany, with distant relatives in the Black Forest, and then in Calgary, Canada.

This early exposure to diverse cultures not only made me fluent in German and English, in addition to my native Spanish, but also adept at connecting with people from various backgrounds and beliefs.

Engineering was always my calling, leading me to pursue a degree in Industrial Engineering at the Institute of Technology in Buenos Aires. My career began as a credit risk and financial analyst at Citibank, where fate would have me meet Daniela, my future wife. A fortuitous job offer in Napa Valley at the age of 25 prompted Daniela and I to embark on a new journey together, relocating to the U.S.

After nine years in the Bay Area, where our first daughter Clara was born, the longing for a closer family connection prompted our move to Miami in 2006, a decision that has brought us immense happiness.

Our daughters Anna and Emi, and our son Julian were all born at South Miami Hospital, each bringing incredible joy and a greater sense of purpose to our lives. Our growing family has shifted my focus towards leaving a meaningful legacy, influencing my career choices towards companies with missions that use technology for positive global impact. My 14 years in tech, spanning roles from entrepreneur to executive at companies like eBay, Lyft, and more recently at health tech ventures like Papa, reflect this journey. Papa, a Miami-based startup, addresses the widespread issue of loneliness and isolation among older Americans—a stark contrast to the communal family life I cherished in Argentina, where Sunday BBQs with grandparents and the extended family were a staple.

I take pride in the decisions I've made, always prioritizing the greater good and lately also mission-driven work over simply personal gain. While I haven’t always been right in the decisions that I’ve made, my guiding star has always been the values my father taught me.

Thank you, Dad.