Joey Tai ‘06 and Emilio Molina '25

From the Wrestling Mat to the Workplace

Joey Tai ’06 and Emilio Molina ’25 first connected through Collingwood’s wrestling program, where Emilio was an athlete, and Joey was a volunteer coach. Over two years of practices and competitions, Joey came to know Emilio not only as a committed wrestler but also as someone willing to put in the time and effort required to improve. Emilio, in turn, valued Joey’s support, knowledge, and willingness to invest in his development.

After graduating from Collingwood, Emilio began studying economics and business at Northwestern University.  He explored careers in finance and began reaching out to Collingwood alumni for advice and connections. He reconnected with Joey, founder of Crete Capital, a commercial mortgage brokerage. Joey then introduced Emilio to others in his professional network.

Emilio took the initiative from there, contacting more than 100 Collingwood alumni and arranging conversations with 32 of them. He wanted to learn about different paths in finance and find an internship that would provide him practical experience. Although his outreach did not immediately lead to an internship, it showed Joey that Emilio was serious about building a career and willing to create opportunities for himself.

When the two met to discuss Emilio’s progress, Joey was impressed by the initiative and persistence he had demonstrated. Their history opened the door, but Emilio’s preparation and work ethic earned Joey’s confidence. Recognizing a fit between Emilio’s interests and the business’s needs, Joey brought him in for Crete Capital’s first summer internship.

The role moved Emilio from learning about the industry to contributing to it. Alongside Joey and his colleagues, he gained firsthand knowledge of a commercial mortgage brokerage and developed several reusable AI tools using Claude. Crete Capital has since incorporated these tools into its credit rating processes. 

For Joey, the transition from coaching Emilio to working alongside him felt natural. He saw the same qualities Emilio had demonstrated as an athlete: curiosity, respect for others, and a strong work ethic. Emilio saw it the same way. “I like to think of it as just getting coached in a different sport,” he said. The guidance and support Emilio received on the mat carried over into the office.

For Emilio, the internship offered lessons beyond his coursework. He described the difference between the classroom and the workplace as “day and night.” He learned how to communicate in a professional setting, understand workplace expectations, and apply academic concepts to real business needs.