Igor Portugal: The accidental CEO: when startups, divorce, and M&A collide!

Igor Portugal spent two decades mastering markets—leading hedge fund strategies and managing billions in capital. But when the industry no longer aligned with his values, he made a rare move in finance: a voluntary, intentional exit. No dramatic blow-up. Just a calculated decision to leave while ahead.In this episode, we unpack how to know when it’s time to exit, the strategy behind leaving a high-performing career, and why Igor believes your best trade might be walking away. Whether you're planning your next move or rethinking what long-term success looks like, this conversation is a masterclass in exiting on your own terms.Book Recommendations"Unasked Questions" by Igor Portugal"The Goal" by Eliyahu M. Goldratt - Structural inspiration for Igor’s book."The Phoenix Project" by Gene Kim - Another narrative-style business book model."Five Dysfunctions of a Team" by Patrick Lencioni - A reference point for narrative-driven business learning."Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand - Referenced for its philosophical style that inspired Igor's earlier novel idea."On Writing" by Stephen King - Recommended by Igor for anyone learning the writing craft. Described as “an amazing book” for aspiring authors ."Economical Writing" - My recommendation for improving sentence-level technical writing.🎙️ Podcasts for WritersFiction Author Business School by Lizelle Hill - Igor binged the entire podcast and considers her a key inspiration.The Self-Publishing School Podcast by Chandler Bolt - Tips on self-publishing, writing motivation, and strategy.The Creative Penn Podcast by Joanna Penn - Offers guidance on both creative writing and self-publishing.Follow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download my e-book, "The Exit Factor: Sell your company for a life-changing sum" and sign up to receive the Business Growth Journal fortnightly: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joshcomrie.com/the-exit-factor⁠