Alumni Awards

Class of '11, '15, and '16

Juanita Sepulveda was born to Justo and Juana Sepulveda in Mexico, raised in Frost, Texas, and originally dreamt of becoming an anesthesiologist. “But no one in my family knew how to start,” she recalls. Fortunately, they knew that education was essential to advancement, and they strongly encouraged her to “believe in herself.”

 After honorable service in the U.S. Marine Corps, she returned to San Antonio, Military City USA, earned an undergraduate and two graduate degrees at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, and embarked on a career path that included entrepreneurial success, significant community involvement, limitless volunteerism, and notable advocacy for small businesses and women veterans and their children. 

Currently, she serves as Chief Operations Officer and Partner at Vanyel Investments, a firm that provides training in stock options trading through a process she says has a 99 percent success rate that is currently being patented.  Juanita says, “We at Vanyel Investments aspire to gain recognition as the company that created the most millionaires.”

She also serves as chair of the Small Business Economic Development Advocacy Committee, co-chair of the Small Business Advisory Commission, co-chair of the Veteran’s Advisory Commission, and chair of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation for the Hidden Heroes City Initiative for the City of San Antonio. Additionally, she serves on the boards of the Texas A&M University-San Antonio Foundation, the SAMMinistries Foundation, the Dress for Success Foundation, and Texas Public Radio. She has served numerous volunteer stints on organizations as diverse as the Center for Health Care Services, her children’s elementary and middle school PTAs, the San Antonio Food Bank, and Saint PJ’s Children’s Home, to name but a few. She is also a Point of Light recipient and a George W. Bush Institute scholar. Indeed, an impressive record for a mother of seven!

Juanita credits her success to her family, business partner Roger Torres, education and the nonprofit groups who have supported and encouraged her.  The three top organizations are Texas A&M University-San Antonio, SAMMinistries, and Dress for Success-San Antonio.  “They were there to support and help me and my family when I returned to the workforce,” she explains. Today, Juanita pays it forward by being a proactive member of their boards and was recently chosen as a Global Ambassador for Dress for Success.

Justifiably proud of her accomplishments, Juanita is a sought-after speaker and co-author of an Amazon bestseller, Her War Too, based on her experiences and the effects of her military service. “Sometimes it’s frightening to share one’s story,” she admits, “but we forget that our stories are a roadmap for others to find their strength.”

For women who aspire to combine a career, community engagement, and service with motherhood, the straight-talking, no-nonsense, indefatigable Juanita encourages them to “be honest with themselves.  You are not going to have it all.” She also stresses the importance of setting boundaries, honest family conversations, and realistic goals. ‘Learn to say “NO” and to say “YES” to yourself more often.”

In 2008 Juanita was inspired by the relentless spirit of José Hernández, an astronaut, who rose from being a migrant worker and later by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who after finding her voice, vowed never to remain silent again. In that spirit, Juanita,  says, “There are still many who have not found their voice yet, so I loan them mine until they discover their own.”