We had the good fortune of connecting with Jose Felix Diaz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jose Felix, how do you think about risk?
Though I am trained as a lawyer, I do not have the typical risk adverse nature that one would expect of a lawyer. I like taking big business risks, because I fully understand that is how the biggest deals (and fortunes) come about. I am lucky to surround myself with some of the top business leaders and developers in South Florida, and they all share a propensity for risk-taking.

I speak to a lot of young high school and college kids and I encourage them to take big risks early in life. Go start a company! Go fail! That is the perfect time in your life to fall on your face and learn some big life lessons.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My primary area of expertise is governmental advocacy. Most of my work is in the tech and real estate sector.

As a former state legislator, I have been working in, and around, government for more than twenty years.

In my time, I have come to work on some of the biggest real estate deals in Miami – from adaptive reuse in Little River, to the Brickell City Centre, to the Faena Hotel in Miami Beach. I am lucky to have participated in some really fun projects. There is nothing more rewarding that driving around Miami and seeing the various projects that I have worked on come to life.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The most interesting part of Miami is the development of distinctive, vibrant neighborhoods in places that were previously blighted and in need of investment. I give a lot of tours of Miami and I usually take people to places that were not even around ten (10) years ago.

I love taking people to Craig Robins’ Design District and enjoying a nice meal at Mandolin or Cote. You can walk around the main shopping promenade while enjoying some world class outdoor art. Then, we usually take a quick trip to Wynwood and Wynwood Norte, two of Miami’s most photographed neighborhoods. If there is time, I like to take friends to Azucar’s homemade Cuban ice cream shop in Little Havana. If time permits, you can sneak in a quick game at Domino Park.

One great place for an early afternoon happy hour is the Lido Bayside at the Standard Hotel off the Venetian Causeway. It might be the best drink with a view in the Miami Beach area.

Finally, no trip to the new Miami is complete without an afternoon of shopping and dining at the Brickell City Centre. The architectural masterpiece that Swire Properties built is worth a stop. Plus, you can end the day with a nice drink at the Sugar rooftop bar at the East Hotel.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am blessed to have a whole community of amazing people along for this amazing journey of life.

I would not be who I am without my parents, siblings, my wife and my children. We love each other so much that we are currently building a family compound together.

Website: https://techsummitmiami.com/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/JoseFelixDiaz

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/JoseFelixDiaz

Twitter: www.twitter.com/JoseFelixDiaz

Image Credits
Zoo Miami Picture taken by Ron Magill

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