Adalberto Ravelo, Cuban Entrepreneur Behind Dolphy School: "Academies Aren't Scams"

In Miami, there's a growing debate around academies: courses offered by successful business people now selling their methods to others.

Some view them as a path to replicating successful models; others see them as scams exploiting those eager to succeed without the financial means.

Adalberto Ravelo, the visionary behind Dolphy School, tackled this issue in the third episode of $how me the mon€y, a podcast by Cuban entrepreneurs from CiberCuba, hosted by Katia Sánchez.

Ravelo leads an institution that, he claims, has educated over 50,000 students. Dolphy School also sponsors the podcast.

The Real Fraud: Individuals, Not Institutions

"Academies themselves aren't scams. It's certain people within them who are," stated the Cuban-born businessman.

Ravelo argues that investing in learning from someone experienced is worthwhile.

"There's someone who has acquired specific knowledge, stayed up late studying, and reached success while you haven't. And that's worth money," he emphasized.

He cites his own enterprise as an example. Dolphy School's insurance courses are certified and approved by the State of Florida, and the school is an authorized IRS provider for tax courses.

"When you have that level of accreditation, it's entirely different," he remarked.

He also mentioned sites that promise insurance courses without ensuring students can earn a license.

Identifying a Credible Academy

For those considering investing in a course, Ravelo offers these tips:

• Check the academy's history and longevity.
• Read reviews from previous students.
• Verify certifications: What official titles or licenses can they provide?
• Be wary of those with no track record.

During the discussion, Katia Sánchez added that instructors should have succeeded in what they teach and not just replicate content from ChatGPT.

The Easy Path and Student Responsibility

Ravelo places some responsibility on students, believing many seek shortcuts.

"The easy path, though you may not realize it, is paying someone three or four thousand dollars to teach you. The difficult path is gathering all that knowledge yourself, making mistakes, failing, then succeeding," he declared.

He also criticized those who pay for courses, don't study, and then blame the academy: "They might be scammers, but you brought the biggest dose of foolishness. Excuse my language."

Ravelo suggests those unwilling to pay for training can self-educate.

"Study, experiment, make mistakes, because you learn from those errors," he said.

He notes that today's internet and AI tools offer abundant information, though sifting through to find useful content can be challenging.

From Blogging to Educating Thousands

Ravelo made it clear he never planned to start a school. Arriving in Miami at 37, he worked in construction and at Bongo's Cuban Café before selling insurance.

By 2005, he had taught himself online marketing and wrote articles on obtaining an agent's license.

The multitude of reader comments asking where to study led him to establish Dolphy School in 2014. Initially, he was the sole instructor, teaching three or four students per class.

After a failed partnership, he reopened the school in 2016 and went nearly two years without selling courses.

Today, according to Ravelo, the academy boasts over 15 instructors, offering more than 37 course types across Florida, Georgia, Texas, and the Carolinas.

Catch the full episode on YouTube or the episode page on CiberCuba.

$how me the mon€y is hosted by Katia Sánchez and sponsored by Dolphy School. Find all episodes available to watch.