St. John’s Alumnus’ Keys to Success: Seizing Opportunities and Taking Risks

By high school, his quick stick skills made him a standout player and a recruit for the 1993 St. John’s University’s Men’s Lacrosse team, a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I program at the time.

Sports were so central to Mr. Jacovetti’s life that he pursued a degree in athletics administration. He imagined a very different career than his father’s, which he had seen glimpses of during childhood visits to his office.

Mr. Jacovetti laughs, recalling his firm beliefs at age 11: “I will never work in Manhattan. I will never wear a suit to work.”

Sometimes, life changes the game plan.

“I had no intention of getting into the financial business sector, and now, more than 20 years later, it’s full-time corporate work for me.”

Mr. Jacovetti is Managing Director and Deputy General Auditor at The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) in Jersey City, NJ. Throughout his career, his athlete’s mindset and team-based approach have been instrumental to his impressive record of success.

Through St. John’s, at age 21, Mr. Jacovetti landed every fan’s “dream job”: an internship with the New York Mets. “It felt like a fantasyland. I was going to NY Knicks games, bars and events with Major League Baseball players.”

Eventually, Mr. Jacovetti traded bullpens for balance sheets and followed a different career path, one that would take him to NatWest, JPMorganChase, Lehman Brothers, Barclays, and Morgan Stanley. In his 16 years at DTCC, he developed expertise in internal auditing of business continuity and financial and information technology. Auditing requires Mr. Jacovetti to play offense and defense, and teamwork informs his leadership style. Directing a group of 30 auditors from the US to the Philippines, he is quick to clarify that he does not “manage” his global team, but rather, he leads it.

“It’s better to be a leader, in my opinion, than a boss or a manager,” he said.

As in sports, corporate teams rely on good coaching, trust, and shared success over individual gains. “You cannot just succeed individually,” he explained. “If you have a good coach, they’re the leader of the team. If you have a good captain, they’re the captain of the whole team.”

Mr. Jacovetti has turned every opportunity into a win. Speaking to students today, he emphasizes, “That’s the key: opportunity. Seize the opportunities. Take calculated risks.”

Strong networks and relationships continue to provide him with career guidance. “Good mentors that I can contact for advice and feedback have been critically important to my success,” he said. 

These relationships are not just professional. “You never know, you could meet your significant other in college,” he said with a wink.

The Jacovettis are multigenerational Johnnies; his father; uncle; and wife, Dina Romano ‘96SVC, are all alumni. Mr. and Mrs. Jacovetti live in East Meadow, NY with their two children, Alexa, 23, and Steven Jr., 20. Former teammates also continue to be a network, as they reconnect at NY Islanders games and recall the life lessons that sports can provide.

Mr. Jacovetti’s record of achievement showcases his game-winning strategy: “Failure is not an option. It’s about dedication, and the ability to learn, adapt, and change—whatever it takes to succeed.”