In just a few weeks, thousands of Longhorns will don their caps and gowns, ready to embark on their career path, which is sure to have plenty of twists and turns along the way. Michael Linford knows that well.
Linford is the chief financial officer of Affirm, a leading payments company. But Linford's degree isn't in finance or economics; he is a mechanical engineer.
He will also give the keynote address at the 2024 Cockrell School of Engineering Undergraduate Student Commencement ceremony on May 10.
The lesson of Linford's career is that the heart of engineering – solving big problems – applies to everything. Soon after graduating, Linford joined McKinsey and Co. as a business analyst. He went on to hold leadership roles within investment, IT, and software companies, such as Hewlett-Packard and global investment firm KKR before coming to Affirm. The skills he learned as an engineer – identifying solutions to complex problems, taking calculated risks, and working to make things better for others – served him every step of the way.
Learn more about Linford's journey, how engineering translated to finance and some of his favorite experiences at UT and the Cockrell School in this Q&A with Cockrell School of Engineering Dean Roger Bonnecaze.
Roger Bonnecaze: How did you go from being a Mechanical Engineer to a CFO?
Michael Linford: Becoming a CFO wasn’t even on my radar when I graduated. But, when I joined a consulting firm after graduating from UT, it became clear to me that being a structured problem solver – one of the most important things we learn in engineering – can be applied in many contexts.
I worked in private equity for several years and saw how different businesses operate. I view business as a system with equations and mathematical relationships like any system we study in engineering. Being a chief financial officer isn’t just managing the company’s finances. It’s about understanding how that company creates value, and then identifying and executing on opportunities to drive an even greater impact.
RB: What do you wish you’d known when you were graduating?
ML: The list of things I’ve learned since graduating is a long one. But I’ll share two thoughts. First, the world is insanely small so be intentional about your relationships.
Second, life is short. I know that may seem silly to a young 20-something graduating. But it will go by fast, so invest your time wisely. Your time is one of the scarcest things in the world.
RB: Do you have a favorite story of your time at UT that you’d like to share with our graduates?
ML: My time at UT was full of so many fun and diverse experiences, and it really was the combination of all of them that left its mark on me. But I still remember the moment when a lot of weight came off my shoulders because I earned a spot at Applied Research Labs. It was part of a program that included significant tuition assistance. Coming from a large family, I was responsible for funding college – and getting a chance to work on cool science while also taking care of the money part of school was huge for me. It was both confidence-inspiring and relieving.
But if you want a fun moment, technically I had graduated by then, but being in Pasadena and watching Vince Young lead the Horns to win the 2006 Rose Bowl is still one of my all-time favorite UT moments. To be in the crowd of several generations of Longhorns, sharing in an awesome win, made it a special and unique moment. I will always remember that final drive when Young scrambled to the end zone for the winning touchdown and the sound that erupted from the stadium.
RB: Tell us about a particular course, project, faculty member or experience that, upon reflection, shaped your path at the Cockrell School?
ML: There were many, but my work on the FASTRAC satellite program taught me a lot, though that might come as a surprise to the faculty advisors. My work on the satellite wasn’t specifically that impressive, but I came away from the experience with a couple important lessons.
First, a bias towards action is incredibly valuable. Many people are afraid to step up and assume someone else is better equipped. For the record, I had no business leading the structures team for a thing that would go into space, but I was able to contribute meaningfully. Second, surround yourself with people and teams who can do great things. Strong teams beat the best individuals every time.
RB: You and your wife, Erika, started the Linford Scholars program last year. What inspired you to get involved in helping future generations?
ML: We have a strong belief that science and engineering make the world better, so investing in future engineers and scientists was an easy decision for us. We both benefited from scholarships during our education, and we want to ensure students with the skills and ambition to succeed also have the financial support they need.
