Deanno Basas is the CEO of ATRAM Digital, a Philippine-based asset management company that empowers Filipinos to invest through their mobile app, ATRAM Prime. 

Through the PRIME app, Filipinos can start their investing journey in minutes, access a diverse portfolio of local and global funds, and easily hop on a call with a personal client advisor. Started in 2009, ATRAM Group is one of the leading asset managers in the Philippines.

‍

👋🏼 How would you explain your job to someone outside tech?

As the CEO of ATRAM Digital—it’s really quite a number of things, but the closest analogy would be a general manager of a grocery store: you mind your inventory, staff, make sure the floors are clean. 

I ensure the experience is optimal for all our clients in the digital arm of our asset management company.

‍

🧐 What's something about you or your job that would surprise us?

You wouldn’t expect someone who does what I do to have hobbies like mine. Some people would call it crazy, but for my 50th birthday, I celebrated by biking 160 kilometers by myself.

I’m an avid marathon runner, scuba diver, and I’ve done marathons as well. I even made headlines one time when I ran the HongKong Marathon as well – see if you can find it!

‍

🏆 What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

I never thought I’d be able to build an app. My career has always been in financial markets and I have several achievements in that field – but it’s a joy whenever I login to ATRAM Prime.

‍

🔍 What's a startup trend or space you're watching this year?‍

Definitely AI. Everyone’s talking about it—but the many applications in our business are boundless. I’m excited to see the applications with financial markets, and overlaying with what people need and their goals and aspirations. For me, that’s so interesting.

‍

💼 What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry? 

Don’t be afraid to take some calculated risk. That’s part and parcel of what needs to be done. When I look at my history as a trader, I’d probably be a lot richer! It’s about taking risks—but also managing risk.

I ride motorcycles on tracks—and these machines are about controlling and managing these calculated risks.

‍

🗣 What's one thing you can keep talking about for hours? 

Financial markets! Some may say it’s, but when you think about it, there are so many aspects to it. When you blend economics, even the Philippine stock market alone, plus bring in the US debt ceiling: you can spend hours on that topic

 People think of it as a parallel universe, but it interplays into real life so much, such as the current topics on inflation.

‍

🎥 What's your favorite movie/TV show? 

Do you know Jerry Maguire? He had the dream and the vision – I can’t help myself but watch every time it’s on TV.

‍

🍨 What's your go-to ice cream flavor?‍

Chocolate! If I want to relive my childhood: Rocky Road. The combination of chocolate and marshmallows brings me back to when I was six years old!

‍

FYI. We’ve edited this interview for clarity.