Mar 30, 2026 | Inside Thomson Reuters

The path to venture investing isn’t always linear, but for one Thomson Reuters professional, every pivot has been powered by an entrepreneurial mindset and a focus on learning new skills.  

We sat down with Josef, a Venture Capital Principal on our Thomson Reuters Venture team to explore his career evolution, the entrepreneurial mindset that drives success at Thomson Reuters, and why this is an exciting time to join our organization as we reshape the future of professional work. 

Tell us about your career journey and what led you to Thomson Reuters Ventures.

My career journey is often described as a series of pivots, but there’s actually a single thread that ties it all together: the entrepreneurial spirit. This mindset was ingrained in me early by my Lebanese father, who taught me the power of community and networking, and my Italian mother, who taught me the art of debate and negotiation.

I joke that I started my career as a Christmas Tree Salesman, but that job taught me that everything is sales. Whether I was navigating the complex ad-tech world at MediaMath in their marketing engineer program, driving digital innovation for global giants like L’Oreal and Diageo, or supporting the Reuters newsroom as a commercial lead, I was always selling, whether that be a vision, a brand’s future, or a partnership.

After nearly six years at Reuters, I joined Thomson Reuters Ventures in April of last year. So, to summarize: Christmas Tree Salesman > Political Science graduate > Ad Tech Startup > Beauty Marketer > Liquor Marketer > News Commercial Lead > Venture Capitalist. It’s the perfect example that no career path is the same!

What attracted you to Reuters initially, and how did that evolve into your current role?

I joined Reuters after working on the media buy-side for most of my career. What was meant to be a short consulting engagement ended up being a great career decision. At L’Oreal, they always talked about being a company focused on innovation because they were founded by scientists. I found a similar story with Paul Julius Reuter, starting with a network of carrier pigeons to what Reuters offers today is an incredible story of innovation and business intuition.

It was incredible to work for a mission-driven organization and to work with the smartest people in the world. The transition from Reuters to Thomson Reuters Ventures allowed me to leverage all my previous experience while stepping into the exciting world of venture investing, where I now serve as a steward of capital for Thomson Reuters.

You made a significant career pivot into venture capital. What skills transferred, and what were the biggest learning curves?

I’ve always been in positions where a combination of Emotional Quotient (EQ) and Intelligence Quotient (IQ) was needed. I saw the quantitative analysis of an opportunity and the qualitative analysis of the people behind the deal as equally important. The fast-paced world of sales, media, and news, definitely keeps you conditioned for any industry transition.

Thomson Reuters Ventures allows me to rotate between many different skills I’ve learned over my career. Some days it’s prospecting for the best founders, other days it’s marketing to build the Thomson Reuters Ventures brand, thinking strategically about the big picture, or rolling up my sleeves to join a sales call with a portfolio company CEO.

What I’ve learned is that Adversity Quotient (AQ) is just as important as EQ and IQ. I’ve found comfort in my ability to face adversity and remain resilient through change to achieve successful outcomes.

How do you build credibility quickly when stepping into new domains or teams?

I was fortunate to move within an organization where I already had relationships, but switching from Reuters to Thomson Reuters required keeping the same mindset: being eager to learn and eager to help. Although I joined in a senior position, I remained willing to learn and support even the most trivial tasks.

Thankfully, with AI and OpenArena (Thomson Reuters’ internal AI sandbox), I was able to build venture operational tools to level the playing field and quickly accelerate my work output. These tools helped with research, drafting, and social media. What I built was rewarded as a top AI solution, and I became a mentor to colleagues, helping them build similar solutions.

This flywheel effect of learning, helping, and executing quickly builds a respected reputation among peers and colleagues.

What’s your approach to skill-building, and what advice would you give to someone starting their career?

I really enjoy reading The Alchemist any time I’m going through change or starting a new journey. It grounds me and helps me be self-aware of my gaps. For example, transitioning to Ventures gave me the opportunity to work on my financial modeling skills.

I truly value the network of peers and colleagues I’ve established over my career. Any time I make a career change, I’m public about it on LinkedIn and prescriptive with key network members. This is the best way to keep opening doors.

Anyone starting their career should find opportunities to learn from more experienced colleagues. The best way is in person; natural knowledge osmosis takes place just by watching others’ habits. It’s our duty as senior leaders to notice when newer professionals join and share time answering questions, even if they’re not on our team.

How do you evaluate new opportunities, and how has your criteria evolved?

In my previous role, it was my job to champion partnerships and help them navigate organizational complexity. In venture investing, I’m less a champion and more a steward of capital for Thomson Reuters. I have to be more judicious in my conviction to “yes.”

There’s a fine balance between being a champion for partners and being an investor. Learning to leverage “no, and” is just as powerful as “yes.” We follow a standard rubric focusing on Series A opportunities with revenue north of $1M. When I first started, I had as many calls as possible to learn about industries and polish my approach. Today, I have more of a filter, though I do try to meet with ambitious founders.

My criteria remain consistent: Is there a compelling story? Is there a path to “yes”? And am I leaving the business and people around me better than when we started?

Thank you to Josef for sharing your career experience with us today. To learn more about Thomson Reuters Ventures, please visit this link.

Ready to Shape the Future of Professional Work?

At Thomson Reuters, we’re building tomorrow’s AI today, and we’re looking for entrepreneurial minds who thrive on solving complex problems and delivering market-leading solutions. Whether you’re interested in AI research, venture capital, product development, or any other area of our business, we offer the opportunity to work with smart, ambitious people who are powering professionals with cutting-edge AI.

• Learn more about our employer story in our digital magazine 

• Check out our career site to explore our 550+ open roles

• Follow us on LinkedIn for the latest news, updates, and stories