“I want to foster a green economic diversification of Ecuador”

When Sebastián first came across the Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals, it was through an online video listing scholarships in Europe: 

“I saw the words ‘global professionals’ and ‘leadership’ and that the SI scholarship focused on the SDGs. That was different from other scholarships and it stood out to me.”  

Before coming to Sweden, Sebastián had already built a strong foundation of experience. He has a background in geography and spent over 10 years working in civil society and for different social NGOs. Eventually he co-founded his own organisation called NEO with the aim to promote environmental conservation and sustainable innovation. Sebastián has also run for political office in his hometown—becoming the youngest candidate in the race. His drive to make a difference started early, he shares:

“As a child I was always concerned about the environmental problems we were facing. I could see the effects of climate change in my community, like how we were losing ecosystems, reduction in biodiversity and the pollution of water sources. That’s what inspired me to study and work in this field.”

When looking for opportunities to advance his knowledge and skills, Sebastián looked for master’s programmes in Europe. He ended up choosing Sweden, not just for its academic reputation, but because it offered something different from the more traditional study destinations, he says: 

“I wanted to find something different, and I was drawn to the Nordic countries. I was interested in Sweden because of its welfare system and approach to sustainability and innovation,” shares Sebastián. “I have always seen the world through science, so going back to academia to pursue a master’s and improve my research skills, and at the same time gain an international network was important to me.” 

Sebastián pursued a two-year Master’s in Human Ecology at Lund University. His time in Sweden gave him a new perspective on innovation, leadership, and education. 

This year, Sebastián was selected to be one of the keynote speakers at the SI Scholarship Diploma Ceremony. In his speech he emphasised on the responsibility he and his fellow scholarship recipients have, to drive sustainability and positive impact in their home countries. He reflects on the values of collaboration that he has experienced during his time in Sweden and reminds the scholars to cherish the networks they’ve built during their studies: 

“Use the knowledge you have gained to do something positive for your country. We are the future leaders. That’s why we are here. We need to make a change for future generations. It is our responsibility to do it. And yes, we come from different backgrounds, countries, territories, we can have differences in our ideologies, in our beliefs, or even in our religion. But we are all humans. We are all part of the same planet, the same society. /…/ collaboration is something we learned through our experience in Sweden and now we get to continue collaborating in the future through this wonderful network that we have built. We need to be the hope for the planet.”

When asked what his goal is for the future, Sebastián said:

“I want to foster a green economic diversification of Ecuador. Our country is based on extractivism, especially in the oil and mining industry. We need to find new ways to develop a more sustainable model that helps to protect our ecosystems and bring social justice. That is why I am interested in research about sustainable innovation.”

Sebastián hopes to become a bridge between Ecuador and the rest of the world, to be in a position to improve people’s knowledge about Ecuador and to foster collaborations. 

“Many people in Ecuador don’t know about opportunities like the SI scholarship, and many people around the world don’t know much about Ecuador. I want to change that.” 

He believes that promoting international collaboration—whether through research, education, or entrepreneurship—is essential for creating lasting change. 

And to those considering applying for the SI scholarship, he says: 

“Sweden is different. The culture, the weather, the food—it’s all new. But that’s part of the growth. You’ll be challenged, and that’s how you develop as a leader. Give it a try without thinking twice, it’s a life-changing opportunity.”