Ben Sevilla is a distinguished Filipino-American executive whose career bridges international banking, business process outsourcing (BPO), telecommunications, investment banking and digital innovation. Born in Washington, D.C., and educated at top universities in the Philippines and United States, he has been a trailblazer in transforming technological and financial landscapes at home and abroad. Sevilla’s career journey is marked by a unique blend of strategic visions, entrepreneurial boldness, and a passionate belief in human potential. From his pioneering work with the Bank of Boston, Broadband Philippines, investment banking with Altus Capital to his leadership at UNO Digital Bank, his career is a powerful narrative of marvelous innovation and foresight.
- What were the key turning points or milestones in your career?
As my banking career progressed in the U.S. and internationally, with Philadelphia National Bank and the global UK banking giant NatWest, the Bank of Boston gave me a unique opportunity: to return to the Philippines and establish their Manila branch as Country CEO – at just 33 years old – was a dream too good to come true. It allowed me to personally contribute directly to the Philippine economy and my beloved Filipino people.
In 1994, another fantastic opportunity arose with the introduction of the Internet in the Philippines.
I envisioned young, skilled, English-speaking Filipinos—proficient in computer technologies— working for foreign companies remotely from the Philippines. What began as “offshoring” soon evolved into the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry. For Bank of Boston, I pioneered one of the very first Philippine-based BPO operations, relating to Letters of Credit support services opened by our bank’s global branches. From this success, I established unique BPO operations in areas like executive recruitment and mortgage and compliance accounting, further cementing the Philippines’ position as a major global outsourcing hub.
Then, I saw another pivotal need: reliable and robust broadband infrastructure. This led me to co-found Broadband Philippines in 2001, knowing how this technology would underpin and support the next wave of digital transformation. In 2005, I also co-founded Altus Capital, now a prominent Philippine-based investment banking firm, in which I am presently Chairman, which strategically focuses on Structured Finance deals within the ASEAN region. This move was fully aligned with my unwavering confidence that the Philippines will definitely become an increasing key country participant in future ASEAN growth.
Fast forward to 2021, my involvement with UNO Digital Bank was a natural progression of this journey. I see UNOBank as a continuation of my vision—leveraging technology to expand financial access and inclusion, particularly within the lower 2/3 of the lesser affluent in the Philippine economic pyramid. My present firm vision is that the Philippines will benefit greatly in coming decades due to its strategic geopolitical location, large young workforce that can be both be re-skilled and upskilled, coupled with government administrations that will fully support technological, energy and supply chain advancements.
- What has been your most effective approach in motivating and guiding teams?
My leadership style has always been rooted in transparency, integrity, with a strong focus on teamwork. I believe in recognizing each team member’s strengths, ensuring everyone contributes their best to collective success. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of building highly successful teams in global and investment banking and BPOs.
- You have been a pioneering figure in three transformative technological domains in the Philippines: Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Broadband Services, and Digital Banking. What is your vision for the future of these industries?
My career across BPO, broadband services, and digital banking has been driven by a single vision: unlocking the full human and economic potential through innovation. Growing up between the USA and Philippines gave me a unique expertise to successfully connect global opportunities with local talent and resources.
The BPO sector is evolving rapidly to embrace high-value knowledge processes powered by automation and artificial intelligence. Accelerated broadband services will allow the Philippines to reach its most remote communities, allowing digital banking to push towards its boundaries of financial inclusion.
I am fully confident that Filipino talent will meet and exceed international standards, thriving in even the most demanding environments. My work has always been about creating platforms that expand opportunities, break down barriers, to allow the fullest potential of our Filipino people, especially those overlooked and underappreciated, to shine. That, to me, is the truest essence of innovation.
- What would your advice be for budding leaders entering this industry?
The first step for any aspiring leader is to fully understand – and appreciate – their strengths and weaknesses, aligning their skills with their visions. Persistence is vital, but much more is the ability to instinctively adapt quickly. True leaders must know when to recalibrate their goals appropriately as circumstances shift. Flexibility and resilience are key to navigating change effectively.
Another critical trait is embracing mistakes as opportunities to learn. Failures must be accepted as valuable lessons that drive growth and progress. Success lies in balancing passion and persistence with the vision to adapt and evolve. My core value of leadership has always been about identifying opportunities and refining them to create meaningful impact to benefit as many people as possible. This “giving back” has been my most cherished reward throughout my career journey to present day, with some years yet to come.
