Our people
27 February 2026
A former teacher with a passion for empowering others, Michael Bottino has built his career around developing people. From mentoring students to shaping learning for colleagues and uplifting people managers, Mike’s journey is a testament to the power of purposeful work and the ripple effect of strong leadership.
Mike’s career began in a New Jersey middle school classroom, teaching social studies to seventh and eighth graders.
“I graduated from university in 2010 and began my career as a teacher right away. I learned pretty early on that I enjoyed empowering other staff members, so I coached student teachers, led professional development workshops, and helped manage the district-wide mentoring program,” he recalls.
Raised by two teachers, education was always close to home, even if, as a teenager, he resisted following in their footsteps. “I always looked at teachers as just regular people, very caring people. I knew they brought a lot of the work home with them.”
What drew Mike to teaching was the challenge and the chance to shift perspectives: “I enjoy the challenge of changing someone’s mind or perspective. I like asking questions and probing to understand things, and those skills lend themselves nicely to teaching.”
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted Mike to rethink his career. Initially intimidated by the idea of financial services, he eventually realized the parallels, and with some encouragement from his college friend Matt, who worked at Macquarie, he decided to apply. “I had some doubts, a bit of imposter syndrome, but you take things slow, ask questions, and lean into your transferable skills.”
Today, as Capability and Development Manager in Macquarie’s People and Culture team, Mike is focused on uplifting people managers and senior leaders across Macquarie.
He spends much of his time building learning solutions, whether from scratch or by revamping existing programs, always ensuring they meet the current needs of stakeholders. “You establish credibility by asking questions, being curious, and meeting people. I didn’t major in business or get an MBA, and that’s okay. My path is different, and that’s respected here.”
Mike is especially proud of his role in the recent launch of Macquarie’s enhanced People Manager Essentials program, a comprehensive suite of resources and workshops designed to help managers lead with clarity, empathy, and accountability. Nearly 1000 people managers have completed the program in its first year, with overwhelmingly positive feedback. 98% of managers would recommend it to others and 99% say they will apply what they’ve learned into how they lead and manage their teams.
Supporting managers means helping them navigate the moments that matter, from giving feedback to building trust and fostering inclusion. When managers feel supported and empowered, their teams thrive.”
Mike connects his work directly to Macquarie’s purpose of empowering people to innovate and invest for a better future. “I might not be investing the money, but I take the whole ‘empowering people’ piece to heart. My value is uplifting people to want to stay, grow, and do great work here. If I can improve someone’s experience, the butterfly effect ripples outward.”
He is also proud of the culture he’s helping shape. “There’s so much collaboration and sharing. I genuinely feel people are rooting for each other here, which is inspiring.”
One of the most rewarding aspects of working at Macquarie for Mike is the alignment between his personal values and the organization’s. He is occasionally asked to share insights on trends in education and learning. “I’ve been approached once or twice for my perspective, given my background.”
Recently, Macquarie supported AI-enabled advancement in the Pre-K–12 education sector, advising on a strategic partnership between Carnegie Learning and the National Science Teaching Association. This collaboration is helping bring innovative, AI-powered learning solutions to classrooms across the Americas - expanding access to high-quality science education and supporting educators as they adapt to new technologies. Macquarie’s expertise in EdTech and commitment to responsible investment are helping drive meaningful change for students, teachers and communities.
Mike sees technology like this as a force for good. “These tools empower people and create more opportunity in education. There’s so much differentiation in the way people learn, and EdTech investment can open up the playing field for people. My own kids are excited to engage with those platforms. I never expected my son to be asking to do math problems, but that’s the magic.”
Mike’s commitment to investing in people extends beyond his role. He partners with the Macquarie Group Foundation, including mentoring high school students interested in business and finance. “I ran a session on public speaking and presenting. Engaging with the students felt like tying together my former life and my current one in a whole new way.”
His advice for those looking to make a similar career shift: “Give yourself some grace. You don’t need to know everything on day one. Establish credibility by being curious and meeting people. If you put some effort into that early on, people do notice, and they share.”
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