Leonard Borriello ’03 is always up for a good adventure, whether it’s his personal or professional life. He’s traveled to 148 countries, is working on his sixth college degree, and is employed in Bank of America's Global Financial Crimes organization, which he says is charged with protecting the financial system by identifying and mitigating risks related to money laundering, terrorist financing, sanctions compliance, and other forms of illicit finance. He works with counterparts throughout the world and also coordinates the identification of emerging financial crime risks and trends within the United States.   

“One of the things I enjoy most about the role is that it combines analytical thinking, problem-solving, and international collaboration,” Len says. “Financial crime is constantly evolving, so every day presents new challenges that require both technical expertise and an understanding of the broader geopolitical and regulatory landscape.” 

Len found himself in the middle of all this intrigue after leaving a job with JPMorgan Chase in 2014. He spent about two years backpacking across Europe and Asia before returning to the United States to pursue his master’s in business administration at the University of Connecticut, where he concentrated in regulatory compliance. In 2017, he had a summer internship at the Bank of America headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., in the Global Compliance and Operational Risk division. When his manager found out he was a Navy veteran, she suggested he meet with leaders in the Global Financial Crimes organization, many of whom had served in the military or law enforcement. 

“Listening to them describe their work, protecting the integrity of the financial system, combating money laundering, and working alongside government agencies on national security-related issues, I realized this was exactly the kind of career I had been looking for,” he says. 

He was offered a full-time job, moving to Charlotte. “In many ways, it feels as though every step along the way, from military service, to international travel, to graduate school, to that first conversation with the Global Financial Crimes team, all helped prepare me for the role I have today.” 

As did Loomis Chaffee. His mother, Harriet, taught Latin at the school for 19 years. 

“In her brilliance, she wanted me to grow up in a close-knit community that valued education, character, and curiosity,” Len says. “Looking back, I realize what an extraordinary gift that was.” He grew up on campus and says even before becoming a student, Loomis Chaffee had already become home.   

“When I eventually enrolled, I wasn't just attending school, I was joining a community that had already helped shape who I was,” Len says. “Loomis taught me the importance of intellectual curiosity, service, and striving to become the best version of yourself. Those lessons have stayed with me throughout my military service, my career, my travels, and my continued pursuit of education.” 

This August he moves to Italy — where he was born — to continue to pursue his sixth degree, this one in psychology, as part of UConn’s study abroad program in Florence. He’ll work remotely. 

“I've been fortunate that, through my service in the U.S. Navy, Connecticut provides tuition waivers for veterans at its public universities,” Len says. “That opportunity made it possible to continue pursuing new areas of study while working full-time, something for which I am incredibly grateful. 

“Over the past several years, my education, travel, and career have reinforced one another in ways I never expected.” Len continues. “Studying history, political science, and geography gave me a deeper understanding of the countries I was visiting, while traveling brought those subjects to life in ways no textbook could. At the same time, my work at Bank of America exposed me to the practical realities of international banking, geopolitics, and regulatory compliance. Together, those three experiences — studying, traveling, and working — have continually broadened my perspective.” 

He says a psychology degree felt like the next natural step in his education journey. 

“While it certainly has applications in my work, particularly in understanding human decision-making, behavioral patterns, and how people rationalize illicit activity, I'm equally interested in it because it helps explain why individuals and societies behave the way they do,” Len says. “Whether you're studying financial crime, leadership, culture, or conflict, so much ultimately comes back to understanding people.” 

With all of the travel he has done, Len has encountered people from all over the world. And cultures. And nature. And history. And fun. There are photos of him skydiving in Dubai, bungee jumping in New Zealand.  

His favorite historical sites: “The remarkably preserved Roman ruins of Leptis Magna outside Tripoli, Libya; the monumental Baalbek ruins outside Beirut, Lebanon; Angkor Wat [temple complex] in Cambodia; and the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar. Each is extraordinary in its own way and offers a completely different window into history and civilization.” For natural beauty, he says, there is nothing like Angel Falls in Canaima, Venezuela, the world's tallest waterfall that includes an uninterrupted drop of 2,648 feet. “It is one of those experiences that simply leaves you speechless,” he says. 

Len has kept a daily journal of his travels, the basis for a series of books he is writing. He is on his seventh volume. The goal is to publish them after completing two other long-term goals: visiting every country in the world and earning his doctorate in an as-yet undetermined field. Target date: 2030. 

His travel advice? “I think the single most valuable skill I've developed is empathetic listening,” he says. “Every culture has different customs, values, and ways of communicating, so I've learned that smiling, speaking less, and listening more will take you much further than trying to impress people. Travel isn't about collecting passport stamps or telling your own stories, it's about hearing everyone else's. 

“I also remind Americans that not everyone around the world views our country the same way we do. Approaching conversations with humility, curiosity, and a willingness to hear perspectives different from your own creates far more meaningful experiences. More importantly, it helps build trust, avoid unnecessary conflict, and often turns strangers into lifelong friends.” 

Leonard S. Borriello, VP, Global Financial Crimes, Bank of America, world traveler, scholar, man of intrigue. Sounds like a movie could be made about his bank role, so what would the title be?  

“I've actually thought about this before,” he says, “so I have an answer ready: The Neutralizer. The title comes from the idea that our job is to identify and neutralize financial crime risks before they can cause harm. ... As for the movie itself, I'd lean into the Hollywood version of the profession. It would follow a fictional financial crime investigator who uncovers an international terrorist financing network by tracing money rather than chasing people. Instead of traditional action scenes, the suspense would come from piecing together financial intelligence, connecting seemingly unrelated transactions, and racing against time to stop a larger plot before it unfolds. 

“Think Mission: Impossible meets a financial thriller, where spreadsheets, sanctions lists, and intelligence reports become the clues that unravel a global conspiracy. It would certainly take creative liberties, but I think it could introduce audiences to a side of financial crime fighting that most people never realize exists.”