Born and raised in the South Bronx, Angel Morales is the only child of an Ecuadorian mother and a Puerto Rican father. Although neither of his parents went to college, he credits his mother—the only mentor he’s ever had—with teaching him what mattered most.
“She could not mentor me from the perspective of providing guidance or advice on my academic or professional path,” he explains, “but she instilled in me the value of hard work and ethical living. Those values were more responsible for my academic and professional success than anything else.”
He adds that the model she provided, particularly in terms of persistence and ingenuity, made him set his sights on college from a young age. His mother’s influence ultimately led him to attend Harvard University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics, with the help of an HSF Scholarship. He then attended Harvard Business School, where he earned a Master of Business Administration.
Angel is the Founder and CEO of Morales Capital, a private equity firm that invests across asset classes, with a particular focus on opportunities in venture, growth and buyout opportunities in minority and women-owned, mission-oriented companies. He is also on the board of directors of NewSchools Venture Fund. Previously, he co-founded and was a managing partner of private equity firm, North Cove Partners, and prior to that, co-head of BAML Capital Partners, an internal private equity unit within Bank of America Merrill Lynch. He has also served on the boards of directors of a number of public and private companies, including the Hertz Corporation.
Angel is a member of HSF’s Board of Directors, on which he serves as the chair of the finance and investment committee. He explains that his perspective on the importance of what HSF does is deeply personal:
“Nothing inspires me more than the thought of the millions of well-educated, proud Latinos who will define this country’s future. I want my children to know that their grandparents were born and raised in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Ecuador and to appreciate why that history makes them special. I want them to be proud of their home and their family, proud of their grandparents who didn’t graduate from high school or speak English, yet made it possible for their children to attend the best universities in the world. And, I want my children—and ALL Latino children—to carry on the proud legacy of the Latino generations before them.”
In keeping with his passionate commitment to advancing education for students with limited opportunities, he is also the founding chair of the board of directors at Comp Sci High, a high school dedicated to helping underserved youth in The Bronx, New York, set a path for success in life. Additionally, he is a board member at Cano Health, where he serves as audit committee chair and compensation committee member. He is also a senior advisor at Avance Investment Management, and is the vice-chair of diversity, inclusion, and belonging for the Harvard College Fund Executive Committee.
Reflecting on his achievements, Angel says he is most proud of the fact that his academic and financial success have enabled him to provide a safe, supportive environment for his family, including his mother. He advises college graduates who want to emulate his journey to be ambitious, find professional mentors, and network aggressively, focusing on strengths and improving weaknesses. And he adds this guidance for when they arrive: “Don't forget about the family, friends, and organizations that helped you get there.”
