Jesus Bernardi, inspired by his parents in Puerto Rico, overcame language barriers in the U.S. to succeed as an aerospace engineer. Driven by a passion for innovation, he co-founded Seller Ops to help businesses automate processes and thrive, reflecting his values of resilience and growth.
Jesus Bernardi’s story is one of breaking barriers and seizing opportunities. Raised in Puerto Rico, he was inspired by his father’s entrepreneurial spirit and his mother’s dedication to education. His father, an agricultural entrepreneur, taught him the value of hard work and determination, while his mother instilled in him a love for learning and the importance of perseverance. These lessons would guide him through the challenges he would face in his professional life.
Jesus’s first major leap was moving to the United States to pursue a career in aerospace engineering—a field where he would encounter numerous challenges, not least of which was his limited English proficiency. “My English wasn’t even conversational when I started at Pratt & Whitney,” he recalls. Despite feeling overwhelmed, Jesus’s programming skills and relentless drive to learn earned him the respect of his colleagues. “I thought I couldn’t work for a company like that with my limitations,” he says, “but mentors who believed in me helped me push through.” It was in this role that he confronted imposter syndrome head-on, learning that such feelings are challenges to be faced, not barriers to success.
Even as he thrived in engineering, Jesus felt a pull toward entrepreneurship—a desire to create something of his own that could help others. This ambition led to the founding of Seller Ops, a company focused on operations strategy and process automation. Together with his co-founder, Daniel Alvarado, Jesus leveraged his engineering expertise to build tools that help businesses streamline their operations. “Seller Ops was built on the idea that we could help businesses be more efficient, do less of the boring stuff, and focus on what excites them,” he explains. One of their key innovations is automating accounting processes, enabling businesses to reduce time spent on repetitive tasks and focus on growth.
The transition from a stable engineering job to starting a business wasn’t easy. “Leaving my job and stepping into uncertainty was hard,” Jesus reflects. “But my wife encouraged me to take the leap and not wait for the perfect time, because there never is a perfect time.” With her support, Jesus took the plunge, embracing the risk and uncertainty that comes with entrepreneurship. Today, Seller Ops is thriving, helping companies across industries optimize their operations.
Looking back on his journey, Jesus sees how the values his parents instilled in him—resilience, adaptability, and the pursuit of knowledge—have come full circle. He is not only building a successful business but also creating opportunities for others to improve their lives through innovation and efficiency. His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is simple but powerful: “There’s never a perfect time to do something. You’ll learn and pivot, and that’s where growth happens.”
Jesus Bernardi’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, the courage to take risks, and the belief that no barrier is too great to overcome with determination and support. He continues to build a legacy not just through his business but by inspiring others to pursue their own drea