Orlando Bravo: Puerto Ricos’s first billionaire opens Miami HQ

Well, thank you very much. I'm very happy to finally be in Miami and to do an interview in Spanish. All my interviews have always been in English, so this is a pleasure. I appreciate you being here at the office.

By pure luck. I was born in Mayagüez, a small city in western Puerto Rico, and stayed there until I finished high school. Thanks to tennis and having incredible parents, I got my first real opportunity. They introduced me to the sport, which allowed me to travel and see different things.

I went to Brown University, and as I was about to graduate, I had no idea what I was going to do—whether to go to law school or something else. Then somebody from New York told me, "You have to interview with these financial firms in New York." He submitted my name, I got a job, and that was my first exposure to the corporate world.

My parents were incredible. First, getting me into sports helped me see a much bigger world. It taught me a lot of humility because there was always someone better. Every time I traveled to a new place, the players were stronger, so I quickly learned that the world is vast, but at the same time, you can compete at an international level.

They had me playing tennis from the age of eight until I was 18. But by that time, both they and I knew I wasn’t going to be a professional player, so I shifted my focus to education, and they supported me in that direction.

Well, that’s true. Andre Agassi was there, and he’s a friend of mine, but Jim Courier has been one of my best friends since I was 10 years old. The first time I came to Miami was for an international tennis tournament, and I lost in the finals against Jim. He beat me easily. But at least I made it that far. From there, we became friends, and he ended up being my roommate.

We've been in San Francisco since the beginning, but we felt the need for a large office on the East Coast. As we expand into Europe and our team continues to grow, we had to decide—where do we go? What better place for young talent than Miami? The community here is expanding rapidly.

It’s a relatively new business hub, with a culture and institutions that are still developing. That creates an opportunity for the young leaders in our company to make a significant impact—not just in business, but in the community as well. Instead of going to cities that are already well established, they have the chance to grow alongside Miami, becoming stronger leaders in the process.

I never stop. I move very fast. There’s always something to do, and I thrive on that pace. Balancing family life—my older kids, my younger ones—with business keeps me constantly engaged.

On the business side, it’s a mix of many roles: acquiring companies, building strong relationships with our investors and clients, growing the team, and raising funds. I love it because it’s a complete process—it challenges me not just as a businessman but as a person. It’s about constantly evolving while leading a company forward.

I really appreciate it if people feel that way. But I’m an entrepreneur—that’s who I am, and I’m very clear about what I do. I’m not a politician.

I believe that those of us who have been fortunate, like I have, have a responsibility to give back, to create opportunities for young people. For me, that means focusing on Puerto Rico and the Latino community. That’s why I’m in Miami. I feel I can make a greater impact through philanthropy rather than politics.

Always. Family comes first, and as a Latino, you understand that well—health and family are everything. Every morning, I take my daughters to school, and whenever I can, I pick them up. The moment I walk through the door at home, the suit and tie come off.

It’s important for them to live a normal life, just like everyone else. And it’s just as important for me and my wife—to stay grounded, to keep that balance.

We have to keep pushing this company forward. Thoma Bravo is one of the biggest and most important firms in the tech sector. It’s not just about acquiring and investing in companies—it’s about the work we put into growing them. That’s a major focus.

The second priority is philanthropy here in Miami. We’re working with an organization called SEO, which started in New York, then expanded to San Francisco, and now we’ve brought it to Miami. It’s focused on helping high school students—especially those without access to opportunities—get into college. That’s something we’re deeply committed to.

 feel like I’m just getting started. It’s all about continuing what we’ve built. If you look at the private equity world, we’re still small compared to the massive technology companies out there. Our goal is to reach the level where we can invest in and acquire those giants. Maybe I won’t be the one to get there, but my team will.

We’re moving forward one step at a time. A mentor of mine once told me, "If you want to reach the future, you have to make it through the present." That’s why we keep pushing. In five or ten years, thanks to the work we and others are doing, you’ll see incredible leaders emerge in this field.