Juan Aja Aguinaco

Professional Development

Juan is a passionate and driven entrepreneur. He is a Co-Founder of Shyft Network, Inc., a public blockchain protocol designed to aggregate and embed trust and validation into data stored on public and private ecosystems, and permissioned and permissionless networks. By facilitating bridging across siloed datasets, Shyft allows for layering of context on top of data, ultimately turning raw data into meaningful information.

Prior to Shyft Network, he was the Director of Operations and Business Development of Decentral, a blockchain innovation hub, and the makers of JAXX, a multi-platform, multi-cryptocurrency blockchain wallet. His career in the blockchain industry began during the summer of 2015, when he started working as intern at Decentral, helping develop the firm's social media strategy, assisted in the organization of DEC_TECH 2.0, a financial and disruptive technology-focused event hosted at MaRS Discovery District, and led the research, draft and distribution of the academic material for the course “Principles of Disruptive Innovation”, of the MSc in Digital Currency at the University of Nicosia.

Before becoming a business professional, Juan worked as VP Legal Counsel at Oro Negro, an integrated Oil & Gas Services company based out of Mexico City, and associate at Kuri Breña, Sánchez Ugarte y Aznar, S.C., a top-tier legal firm specialized in corporate, securities and anti-trust Law.

Education

Juan graduated as an MBA from the Schulich School of Business in May, 2016. He was the recipient of the Tanna H. Schulich Entrance Scholarship, and, as part of a team of highly talented individuals, was the winner of the Tetra Pak - Schulich Marketing Case Competition. He was also a consultant at York Sustainable Enterprise Consultants, a sustainability consulting firm. 

Juan studied Law at the Universidad Iberoamericana, Santa Fe Campus. He also collaborated at Ibero 90.9FM as assistant producer for an independent music and debate content radio station.

Profile

A serial entrepreneur. Juan is a passionate tech startup strategist, with hands on experience in startup operations and marketing, and team leader creating and implementing business, product and marketing strategies.

Extra-curricular activities.

Juan is a panelist and member of Hispanotech, a nonprofit Canadian corporation that promotes the success of Hispanics in Canada's technology sector.

With a passion for journalism, photography and storytelling, and a belief in the power of compelling content as a way to connect with audiences, Juan participated as contributor to York University’s The Excalibur, and to Schulich’s magazine, The Insider.