[1] José Luis Parada Rivero was born on 28 September 1953 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

He studied economics at the National Autonomous University of Honduras in Tegucigalpa graduating as an economist in 1975.

[1] He returned to Bolivia and joined the Santa Cruz Development Corporation as Head of Sector Planning and Director of Administration and Finance.

He also entered the public sphere, working as Administrative and Financial Director for the Vice Presidency of Bolivia.

[1] Starting in 2005, Parada served as Secretary of the Economy and Finance of the Departmental Government of Santa Cruz and later as an economic advisor during the administration of Governor Rubén Costas.