We recently had the chance to connect with Jonathan Bernal and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jonathan, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day are usually spent getting ready and briefly checking messages, emails, and texts that need responses. Recently, I’ve gotten back into prioritizing my physical health, so I’ve been going to the gym first thing in the morning to take care of that before starting work
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m the founder and maker behind BoxGod Atelier, a bespoke luxury leather studio specializing in handcrafted trunks, watch cases, jewelry boxes, and custom leather goods. Every piece is built by hand using premium and exotic leathers sourced from some of the world’s most respected tanneries, with signature trunk detailing that gives the brand its distinct identity. What sets us apart is our focus on craftsmanship, personalization, and timeless design — each item is made to be both functional and heirloom-quality. I’m continuing our business model of creating fully custom pieces while also expanding our core models and growing our overall product line.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A defining moment that shaped my outlook on life happened when I was 13 years old. I was hit by a car, suffered a fractured skull and brain injury, and spent time in a coma. Coming out of that experience — when science couldn’t fully explain how I survived — completely changed how I view the world. Being that close to death gave me a deep appreciation for life and made me realize that fear is far more limiting than risk. Since then, I’ve carried the belief that no challenge is insurmountable, and that mindset has made me resilient, driven, and unafraid to pursue what I want.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have definitely been moments when I felt close to giving up. I’ve been pursuing this dream for nearly 11 years, and the journey hasn’t always been easy. In 2022, my main Instagram account — the one I had built from the very beginning — was taken down. In that moment, it felt like years of work had disappeared overnight, and I truly felt like I was starting from zero again. But with persistence, faith in the vision, and the support of my team, we rebuilt from the ground up. Fast forward to today, and we’ve grown an even larger audience than before and are busier than ever, which made that setback ultimately feel like part of the process rather than the end of the road.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes — the version of me people see publicly is genuinely who I am in real life. I’m the same person with my clients, my followers, and in my day-to-day life. By nature, I’m actually quite quiet and reserved, so on social media I tend to keep things simple and intentional — I mainly share my work and moments with my family, because those are the things that matter most to me.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people remember me as someone who started young with a simple dream that grew into something much bigger. What began as a small side hustle became a full-blown passion and lifelong vision. I stepped into an industry I knew very little about, but I trusted my instincts, stayed true to my ideas, and followed my creative intuition. In the end, I’d want people to say that I built something meaningful — a brand and body of work that people around the world came to trust, respect, and believe in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Theboxgod.com
- Instagram: @theboxgodatelier
- Facebook: The boxgod
- Youtube: The BoxGod
