Sebastian Roemer, Class of 2012
Tell us about your journey since KWS.
After KWS I studied Economics at Cornell, where I graduated in 2015 and moved to NYC to work in finance. I had become interested in investing at KWS while reading a biography on Warren Buffett as part of a 20th century history class. I liked that he seemed to be a contrarian thinker, and his ability to question the status quo seemed to make him successful as an investor. I had thought of myself as a contrarian thinker and wondered if that meant I might find a calling as an investor. After spending two years in NYC, in 2018 I moved to San Francisco to work at a firm that invests in technology businesses. I’ve been here ever since working as an investor in technology businesses.
What drew you back to your alma mater to serve on the board?
I felt gratitude for my formative years at KWS and wanted to reengage with the community and hopefully find ways I can give back.
Describe a memory at KWS that particularly stands out.
The teachers at KWS were some of the kindest, most generous people I’ve encountered in my life. My science teacher and high school lacrosse coach, Andy Dill, would sometimes give me rides home after practice. I was a science nerd and remember having fascinating conversations with him about a wide variety of esoteric science topics.
What would you like to tell current KWS Students (about your studies, about your post-school experience, or general advice)?
When looking back at various periods of my life, the thing that defines my experiences most is the people involved. If I could give myself advice at any point in my life, the advice would be to think carefully about the people I choose to bring into my life, and then to prioritize building meaningful, lasting relationships with those people.
