Get to know Martin Arredondo '12, entrepreneur of Dazzle Events Chicago, DJ and producer.
After graduating from Cristo Rey in 2012, Martin enrolled at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and majored in Finance with minors in Technology and Management. During his time studying finance and working for Deloitte and Equitable Advisors post-graduation, Martin decided to pursue a different profession that would bring him much joy. Inspired by his passion and love for music, Martin decided to leave his 9-5 role to pursue entrepreneurship and music, and to this day claims it to be one of his greatest life accomplishments.
Martin shares his love for music first began during high school when he started to DJ as an outlet and form of expression, and after DJ’ing for a while, started producing his own music and distinguishing himself through his own sounds. When asked what he enjoys most in his work, he shares his love for being able to create and discover new sounds and music. He further states, “I love that I can improve people’s days through my work; even just playing someone’s favorite song can brighten their day. Music brings us together, and being able to share that is so powerful to me.” Martin also enjoys being a lifelong learner, especially as an entrepreneur who learns daily from his peers and clientele. This year, he’s found himself occupied with learning more about music production to help scale his business.
When asked if he believes Cristo Rey has impacted his career or who he is today, Martin confirms that much of his personal and business success is thanks to Cristo Rey. He goes on to share, “Because of Cristo Rey and a generous gift from Chris Perry, I was able to attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, on a full academic scholarship. Graduating from college debt free was a significant reason why I was able to pursue entrepreneurship at a young age.” He continues to share the value he has for his Jesuit education at Cristo Rey and how much of a cornerstone it’s been in how he lives his life. He is motivated to continue to be a man for others, putting the needs of others before his by sharing his gifts and talents with the world around him.
Martin also shared his favorite memory at Cristo Rey during his freshmen year on the baseball team, when they had to sell boxes of chocolates as part of a fundraiser to travel to St. Louis for an exhibition game. He shares, “Even though I was not very good at baseball, I was good at selling chocolates and sold the most out of anyone on the team. As a result, even though we didn't go to St Louis, we each got a Varsity Jacket, which I still have. That experience taught me that even if I couldn't contribute much on the field, I could still be a good teammate off it. It also showed me that I could accomplish anything I set my mind to, even if it were something as simple as selling boxes of chocolate.”
When Martin isn’t producing new music and working on his business, he enjoys spending time with his family, significant other and friends. He loves trying new recipes as he grills, cooks and bakes. He claims himself to be a finance nerd, as he loves to keep up with markets, economic news and anything Warren Buffet, Charlie Munger or Ray Dalio have to say.
Finally, when prompted with the question on what advice he would give to other Alumni or current students who aspire to pursue a similar career path he responded, “Be bold and follow the road less traveled! Entrepreneurship is scary, but it only happens if you try. My biggest regrets didn't come from my failures, but from the times I didn't give it a shot. The best thing you can be is yourself and believe in yourself unapologetically.”
Thank you to Martin Arredondo ‘12 for sharing his career journey with us. We are so proud of your work and your continued involvement with our community. We know your passion will take you so much farther! For updates on Martin’s endeavors, follow him on Instagram @dazzlechi
Interested in being featured? Contact Daisy Castillo, Manager of Alumni Support.