Ten Questions for One Alumnus - Julián Sevillano ’90
(This article first appeared in the Belen Jesuit Alumni Magazine, Winter 2022 edition)
Q. What type of student were you?
Q. Can you describe one funny moment while you were a student?
Q. What is one thing that you will never forget that you learned in school?
Q. Who made an impact in your life?
Q. What do you hold most dear?
Q. How has your Jesuit education shaped and helped you in your life?
Q. What prompted you to go into the finance industry?
Q. How do you make a difference in that industry?
Q. Cryptocurrency is picking up steam. What advice would you have for students interested in pursuing a career similar to yours?
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Q. What was your experience like at Belen?
A. It was a transformative experience. I did not want to go to Belen; my parents forced me to apply, and I tried to purposely fail the entrance exam. That landed me in summer school before 7th grade. Soon enough, I made friends, many of which are some of my dearest friends today. I am very grateful my parents decided to send my brother and me to Belen Jesuit.
Q. What type of student were you?
A. I was the kind of student that everybody thought got straight A’s, but the reality was different. I did well in languages and history, and I struggled in math and science. I was academically lazy, but I was a great test taker and was very active in the school community: Track and Field, Key Club, Vincam Editor in Chief, etc. This is how I managed to get into a decent college.
Q. Can you describe one funny moment while you were a student?
A. In my junior year, Vincam had been out of circulation for a while, so a few friends and I decided to revive the school newspaper. There were several controversial articles in that edition, and the Administration had not reviewed them. So, when 1,500 copies of the new Vincam got delivered to the school one morning, they confiscated them all, well, almost all of them. There are still a few copies out there, but you won’t find them in the school archives.
Q. What is one thing that you will never forget that you learned in school?
A. As you can tell from my prior answer, I was a bit of a contrarian. What I learned was that to be successful in life, you have to understand the rules of the game and find the most efficient and effective way to meet your objectives within those constraints. Even though the Administration wasn’t happy with the Vincam incident, they applauded my initiative and appointed me Editor in Chief in my senior year, on the condition that I promise to give them a chance to review the content (and those editions you will find in the archives).
Q. Who made an impact in your life?
A. There were many people at Belen that made an impact in my life, but I will mention a few. Father Sardiña, S.J. was a true man for others, Mr. Collins taught me to think critically about news and politics, Mrs. Vila helped me survive in math, and Mrs. Hernández taught me how to write in a clear and unbiased manner. These are all life skills that have helped shape me personally and professionally.
Q. What do you hold most dear?
A. The lifelong friendships that I made at Belen, and the privilege of forever being a part of the Belen brotherhood and legacy.
Q. How has your Jesuit education shaped and helped you in your life?
A. Men for Others is not just a motto, it is a way of life to which we should all aspire. I have been very fortunate in my life, and in my small way, I try my best to make a difference in the lives of others, particularly less privileged youth that just need a little help to get the chance to achieve great things.
Q. What prompted you to go into the finance industry?
A. I always loved finance. I read the Wall Street Journal as a kid and had this romantic idea of working on a trading floor on Wall Street. That never happened, but my finance career has given me so many amazing opportunities, including living in South America, traveling the world, eventually moving to San Francisco, and now working in the fascinating world of crypto and digital assets.
Q. How do you make a difference in that industry?
A. I think in any industry, you have to acquire a solid skillset that allows for being a positive contributor. Once you have the tools, you can begin to look around the corner to see what’s next. And that’s where you can begin to make the most impact, in driving growth and innovation. The skills I learned in banking, and later in the corporate world, allow me to be a very effective consultant for my clients.
Q. Cryptocurrency is picking up steam. What advice would you have for students interested in pursuing a career similar to yours?
A. Bitcoin, Etherium, and NFTs get all the headlines, but it’s the underlying blockchain technology that can be revolutionary for finance, art, entertainment, and other industries as well. This is why it’s called Web3.0. And the cool thing is that anyone can participate. If you want to learn more about crypto, read up on the white papers of the different crypto projects, experiment with the technology, and seek out opportunities for internships. There are several digital assets firms in Miami, including Recur, FTX, and Circle and you’ll find some Belen alumni in leadership positions at those firms.
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.