News Detail
Alumni Highlight: Marcel Laniado '02
Marcel G. Laniado '02 lives in South Florida with his wife and two children and serves as a banker at J.P. Morgan Private Bank. Marcel was recently recognized by the United Way of Miami as the Next-Gen Philanthropist of the Year Award recipient. This marks his more than 10-year commitment to the United Way of Miami and he remains deeply committed to giving back to his community. In this conversation, he shares how his early experiences shaped his mindset of being a lifelong learner. When asked what success looks like to him, Marcel replies, “Success means being of service to clients, helping my team grow and improve, contributing positively to my community and having the time and resources to care for my family and friends.”
Name:
Marcel G. Laniado
What year did you graduate from Ransom Everglades?
2002
What were your extracurricular activities when at Ransom Everglades?
Soccer, Cross Country, Water Polo, Student Government and French Club
Where did you attend college?
Syracuse University
What was your major?
Economics with a minor in Mathematics
Who were some memorable faculty or staff during your time at Ransom Everglades and why?
Mr. Kappelman, Coach Villano, Mr. Hogan, Mr. Ferguson, Mrs. Oberstein, Dr. Dughi, Monsieur Alvarez, Mr. Gaskin and Mrs. Kujawa. I tend to remember the teachers who showed tough love and pushed me to do better than I thought I could.
What is one of your favorite quotes?
“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.” – Mike Tyson
I like it because it reminds me that life rarely goes exactly as planned, so adaptability and resilience are essential.
What were your first few jobs out of college?
RE Summer Camp Counselor and Assistant Soccer Coach.
Where do you work now? What do you do?
I am a banker at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, where I advise families on wealth planning, investments and their long-term financial strategy.
What does success look like to you?
Success means being of service to clients, helping my team grow and improve, contributing positively to my community and having the time and resources to care for my family and friends.
What would you say has been your biggest hurdle or challenge in your career?
Finding my voice. Early in my career, it took time to feel confident sharing my opinions and perspectives. Over time, I realized that thoughtful contributions help teams make better decisions.
What's your favorite part of your job?
The people I get to work with each day. I have colleagues both younger and more experienced from all walks of life, all striving to provide the best service we can for our clients. I also get to work with clients I deeply respect and who appreciate the work we do together.
What’s one of the best things you learned about yourself at RE?
That I enjoy learning and growing, that I’m competitive in a healthy way and that I make friends easily and tend to keep them for life. Many of my closest friendships today actually started at Ransom Everglades.
What song did you have on repeat the year you graduated?
I am not sure about the year I graduated, but I think I listened to the Fugees, Maná and U2 more than anything else back then.
What do you do in your spare time?
Play soccer, watch movies, & BBQ (I mostly eat & my wife mostly cooks!)
What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?
These days, my 8 and 9-year-old kids usually kick me out of bed each morning. Beyond that, the opportunity to keep learning, improving and being useful to the people around me is what motivates me.
What book are you currently reading, or what podcasts are you listening to?
Current books - 1929, Meditations, & Project Hail Mary
Podcasts - my fellow RE classmate’s podcast: Always an Athlete Podcast with Jonathan Osborne ’02
What is something your teachers would be surprised to learn about you?
That I am on time now… Well, mostly on time!
Is there anything else you’d like to say to current students about achieving your goals?
Your goals will likely evolve over time, and that’s okay. Take time to reflect on what matters to you, and be brave enough to share your ambitions with people you trust. Often, the right mentors, friends and teachers can help you see possibilities you might not see on your own.
You can find Marcel Laniado '02 on LinkedIn here.
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Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove, Florida. It is rated the top private school in Miami and among the 10 private schools in North America. Ransom Everglades School produces graduates who "believe that they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it." The school provides rigorous college preparation that promotes the student's sense of identity, community, personal integrity and values for a productive and satisfying life, and prepares the student to lead and to contribute to society.
Ransom Everglades School®, The RE Way®, RE Pathways® and Bowden Fellowships in the Humanities™ are trademarks of Ransom Everglades School.
Ransom Everglades School®, The RE Way®, RE Pathways® and Bowden Fellowships in the Humanities™ are trademarks of Ransom Everglades School.