Meet Leo Sequenzia, a senior at the University of Miami majoring in Economics and minoring in Entrepreneurship. A former Division 1 lacrosse player, Leo has navigated a dynamic path of athletic transitions and diverse internships across marketing, AI, and business development. Today, he also manages his own emerging marketing agency and recently earned a roster position as a walk-on student-athlete for the University of Miami Football program.
Leo spoke with H22 CEO and Founder Heather Jerrehian as part of our ‘First Rung’ blog series, designed to explore the ways self-knowledge contributes to purpose and passion for Gen Z. At H22, we believe that in a world being reshaped by AI and automation, clarity about who you are and why you’re here matters more than it ever has before.
Heather: When do you feel most energized — what are you doing?
Leo: Sports have always been such a massive part of my life. Lacrosse is obviously my favorite sport, the one I've played my whole life, but golf, throwing a football, and even playing ping pong with my friends energizes me too. I feel most energized when I'm with people I care about, doing things out in the world. I really like to travel. My family has been very fortunate, and I've been to five of the seven continents. I love to explore. Since I'm new here in Miami, walking around campus or walking into the Coral Gables area — just putting myself out into the world — gives me that energy.
I also love to work. I have a marketing agency right now with two clients. It’s nothing big yet, but I'm passionate about it, and I'm passionate about AI and how that can help businesses.
People might assume I'm an extrovert because being out in the world and around people feeds my energy, but ironically, I would say I'm more of an introvert. A lot of times when I explore, I do it by myself. I do love people and talking, especially in contexts where there’s something meaningful to be talked about. I'm not much of one to sit around and talk about nothing. I'm a passionate person, but I would say I’m more of an introvert, though those lines can blur.
Heather: What is a strength you have that the world hasn’t fully seen yet?
Leo: I would say a strength of mine the world has not fully seen yet is my ability to learn and adapt, and my responsiveness to feedback. It is something I pull very much from being coachable in sports. It is one thing I've been told by almost every employer I've had so far as one of my biggest strengths. I have an ability to understand people's feedback and apply it in real-time. It is just how I process. I'm very receptive to what people say and how they say it, and I try as hard as I can to apply it as quickly as possible. Previous employers have seen that, but it is a hard skill to demonstrate to the wider world.
Heather: What skill are you deliberately building right now, and why?
Leo: Generally, market research for the business I'm currently running. Both of my client companies are in the pre-money, pre-market stage, so I'm trying to understand how to go about that research as a whole. I'm also working on design so I can do social media marketing for these companies, trying to hone my design sense. Staying up to date with AI tools is crucial, too — even just playing around with them out of genuine curiosity.
Lastly, I am focused on networking. It’s something I'm not great at. I'm really good at communicating initially, but when it comes to following up or touching base with people, I tend to lose momentum. I find myself questioning it, thinking, "Maybe they don't want to hear from me," and my voice in my head starts doubting it. So, networking is probably the final skill that I'm really trying to build right now.
Heather: In a world where AI can do more and more, what should remain deeply human?
Leo: I think skills like communication and our relationships with each other should remain deeply human. Something I think is an issue that I hear more and more about is people taking their deeply personal things to ChatGPT or Claude. While those platforms can give great advice — and I've definitely asked questions that are philosophical or a level below the surface — it is more important than ever that we have those conversations with each other. AI is not capable of having those personal experiences that I think make us able to relate to one another. The biggest thing we can't lose is our ability to be with each other and have those hard conversations.
Heather: Do you have a favorite quote or saying that strongly resonates with you?
Leo: The main one my parents have taught me is to "stay curious." It seems like a broad, simple concept, but it is one of the few things that doesn't take much effort to do yet provides you with so much.
It has really helped me in the internships and limited business experience I've had so far. It drives me to be curious, to set up meetings with someone on a team I'm not on, and just ask them questions..
Heather: What does the statement “Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Taken” mean to you?
Leo: I think that speaks to believing in yourself. To be your fullest self, you really do need to believe in yourself. In a world with social media and people wanting to be like their favorite influencers, being chronically online can erode our ability to be ourselves and trust who we are. That matters. We are here for a reason, and we are important. Everyone is doing their own thing, and you never know what's going on inside someone else's head.
Heather: What problem in the world feels personal to you — something you can’t ignore?
Leo: I think a lot of us experience or know someone who experiences anxiety, which is often only furthered by social media. Everyone's feelings are real and legitimate, but also sometimes we blow things out of proportion. Where if you were to take a moment, and just take a deep breath, you realize, "Okay, I can handle this”.
At the same time, it’s super important to be able to know and say when you are not okay, not feeling good, and need to make a change. it’s hard, but sometimes you just have to make the change. It’s worth it.
Heather: What is something you wished I’d asked you about?
Leo: Probably sports! I know a lot about sports and could talk all day about the NFL, golf, or even pro lacrosse, which not many people know about, but there is a professional lacrosse league. I am a Seattle Seahawks fan, which makes the matchup against your 49ers a fun rivalry. I also love golf — I play at a 15-handicap — and I love watching Tiger Woods’ and Rory McIlroy’s swings and tips and such on YouTube. Sports have just been a big part of my life the whole way through.
