BConnected: Santiago Morfin ‘07
Connecting alumni and fostering an environment for networking is a key component of the Alumni Association. In order to improve communication between alumni, the association has been annually visiting select cities with the hopes of engaging and connecting alumni from around the country to Belen. Most recently, the association launched their new online platform, BConnected on belenalumni.org.
In September 2018, the Belen Alumni Association set out on its third destination of the 2018-19 Alumni Tour - Ann Arbor, MI. One of the key components of the tour is the opportunity for Father Willie, Alumni Association Executive Director Carlos Bravo '86, and Belen Jesuit Executive Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations Phil Fernandez ’94 to tell alumni about the current status of the school and about upcoming projects.
“During these tours, we talk about the association as a resource for our alumni and how staying in touch can help build connections,” said Fernandez.
During the event in Ann Arbor, alumnus Santiago Morfin ‘07 took advantage of the array of guests at the tour and networked. “During dinner, I sat next to Albert Berriz ‘74, CEO of real estate investment company McKinley, and learned about his experience at the helm of his organization,” said Morfin. “He also gave me career advice and has been a great resource in Ann Arbor.”
Soon after the tour, Morfin reached out to the alumni office asking them for their help in making a connection with Restaurant Brands International (RBI) with whom he was interviewing. “As I was preparing for my first interview with RBI on a Sunday night, I realized that Jose Cil ‘87 is the CEO of the company,” said Morfin. “That night, I sent Father Willie and Phil Fernandez an email asking if they could connect me with Mr. Cil. By early Monday morning, I had an email from Mr. Cil in my inbox. That really showed me the power of the Belen alumni network.”
With encouragement from Jose Cil, Morfin began the rigorous and competitive interview process. Morfin successfully completed a behavioral interview, case interview, and two interviews with members of the RBI Leadership Team before he reached the final round – an interview with the RBI CEO, Jose Cil.
“Different steps in our interview process help us understand different characteristics about candidates, but overall we’re looking for a diverse group of people who share a few key traits,” said Cameron McClure, Lead, Global Talent Acquisition at RBI. “Our ideal candidates are great problem-solvers with strong interpersonal and leadership skills. They will fit into our culture well, because they are hungry, humble, and hard-working. We strive to hire the best talent in the world to help us build the most loved restaurant brands in the world.”
Morfin joins a program that has a track record of helping top-tier MBAs develop into successful leaders. Sami Siddiqui (HBS ’13) serves as President of Burger King APAC, Mike Hancock (Sloan ’13) now serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Tim Hortons Canada, and Maria Posada (Sloan ’15) now serves as the General Manager for Burger King US Midwest.
“I think the power of the Belen network, especially in Miami, is second to none,” said Morfin. “Not only did it help me with this opportunity at RBI, but it also helped me with landing my previous job at Citi after graduating from FIU in 2011. And I’m not the only one who has benefitted from this. I know many other alumni that also found career opportunities through the Belen network. That is why it is important for alumni to register on BConnected. Through this platform, they can find job postings, mentors, and potential business partners.”
Morfin will begin his new position at RBI’s MBA Leadership Program in August 2019. Connect with him and other alumni on BConnected by visiting www.belenalumni.org.
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba by Queen Isabel II of Spain. The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline. In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the School property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit sits on a 30-acre site in western Dade County, only minutes away from downtown Miami.