AFAM: Hello, Sébastien, and thank you for participating in this interview series. Please tell us a few words about yourself. What are you doing today at DRW, the company you work for, and what is this company about?
Sébastien: At DRW, my role is to step in when there’s complexity to coordinate — whether it’s a large-scale enterprise application or a project spanning multiple teams with tricky technical and business challenges. In short: I bring structure and help deliver results. The variety is what I enjoy most. One week I might be rolling out a procurement system, the next working on onboarding tools to meet crypto regulations, or supporting the deployment of ultra‑low‑latency technology in a market exchange. Most recently, I’ve been coordinating our AI transformation program.
As for DRW itself: it’s a privately held trading firm headquartered in Chicago, with offices worldwide, including New York. Known for its leadership in quantitative trading and crypto, DRW is also active in venture capital and real estate. What makes DRW unique is how it combines deep market expertise with cutting‑edge technology. For me, the best part is being surrounded by such bright minds that I often feel like the happy idiot in the room — which keeps me humble and constantly learning.
AFAM: prior to your position in DRW, you worked for a quantitative trading firm and earlier for two banks: BNP Paribas and Societé Generale.You started working for BNP Paribas in Paris and then in NYC where you are residing now. Please tell us, how come that just a couple of years after you graduated from Arts et Metiers, you joined the bank? Was it your career plan to work in the banking sector?
Sébastien: Honestly, it wasn’t planned. When I graduated from Arts et Métiers in 2001, it was the peak of the dot‑com bubble. Everyone wanted to do web development, and I was no different. I started as a consultant on web applications and had multiple offers before I even officially graduated. I thought I’d be heading straight into tech.
But my first real assignment ended up being with BNP Paribas. At first, I was skeptical — I thought banks would be less interesting from a technology perspective. My manager convinced me to give it six months, and if I didn’t like it, I could switch. I ended up loving it. I discovered a whole world I hadn’t imagined, and it taught me to stay open to unexpected opportunities. Sometimes you just have to let the wind take you somewhere new.
AFAM: What do you think is the best way or one of the ways to start in finance, especially for our students at Arts et Metiers with a major focus on mechanical and industrial engineering?
Sébastien: The traditional route is to add a master’s degree in finance on top of your engineering diploma. That typically leads to roles like quantitative analyst, risk management, or business analyst.
My path was different, less conventional. I came in from the technology side and picked up finance on the job. As generalist engineers, we’re well suited to adapt and bridge the gap between business and development. Good entry points include project management, analysis roles, application support, or change management. It’s really about applying the same skills we use in industrial contexts — understanding workflows and organizational politics, and mastering business concepts and technology. It’s also about translating needs between groups and coordinating them — just in a finance environment.
And let's not underestimate networking. Nurture connections with people working in finance and stay open to opportunities. I wouldn’t be where I am without friends who connected me to the right people at the right time, and I’m very grateful to them.
AFAM: AI poses a challenge and thread to financial engineering and trading. What are your thoughts on this? How do you adjust to the new reality and what would you like to advise to young engineers, in particular Arts et Metiers students, willing to enter the financial industry today?
Sébastien: I’m closely involved in this, as I was recently put in charge of coordinating the AI transformation program at DRW. I don’t see AI as a threat but certainly as a beast we need to tame. There’s a lot of hype, and we’ve all seen headlines about companies replacing entire teams with AI. On the ground, though, the reality is more nuanced. The technology has huge potential, but it’s not reliable - at least not yet. Recent studies suggest over 90% of AI initiatives are failing to deliver real value. Common pitfalls include the non‑deterministic nature of AI, inadequate data, poor prompting, and weak context. On top of that, many initiatives are launched out of pure hype or FOMO rather than real business needs.
That said, I’m very bullish on AI. It will become a real competitive edge for companies, and careers will follow the same trend. Those who are comfortable with the technology will be better prepared for future opportunities.
For young engineers: get familiar with AI. Learn the basics, practice prompt engineering, build agents, experiment with automation and retrieval‑augmented generation, even try fine‑tuning. But don’t lose sight of your broader role. As Arts et Métiers engineers, we are natural connectors — linking users, business, technology, and AI specialists around use cases where AI *could* bring value. And I say *could* because the risks of failure are high — which is why pragmatic, generalist engineers like us are so valuable.
AFAM: how did being a Gadz help you in your international career in finance?
Sébastien: For me, it started in Paris, where I spent seven years learning the job before being offered the chance to lead and coordinate the North America platform on the same technology. My international career wasn’t planned; it grew naturally from being ready to take the opportunity when it came.
For others aiming to go international, a few things can help. Additional credentials abroad — like a master’s or a semester at a foreign university — can open doors. A key differentiator is your network. Knowing people abroad makes it far easier. Companies rarely hand out visas without good reason; it’s costly and complicated. Associations like AFAM are also a great resource — thanks to Albina for making it work!
(AFAM’s note: obviously big thanks go not only to Albina (AFAM community manager) but to all the Gadz’Arts volunteers who serve on AFAM board, AFAM committees, as well as to our Gadz groups representatives, Shasta mentors and donors.)
AFAM: you live in New York City. What do you enjoy most about it outside of your work?
Sébastien: I love New York’s energy. It’s never boring, and so many people are here by choice, chasing their dreams — that gives the city a real kick. Cultural diversity is just as important. My family is multiracial with roots on three continents, and the city feels like the perfect synthesis of that richness. Between museums, concerts, and hidden restaurants, there’s always something new to explore. It’s also a wonderful place to meet people and raise curious minds. It truly is a land of opportunities.
AFAM: Thank you for your time, Sébastien!
Photo: courtesy of Sébastien
Other interviews in "Financial Engineering" series:
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