Daniel J. Williams ’88

After graduating from Marquette University, I spent five years working in Chicago advertising before heading back to school. I received my MBA in accounting and finance at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. That degree and career change brought me to New York, where I initially worked in investment banking. For the past 15 years, I have worked as a senior private banker serving the needs of high net worth families as well as financial entrepreneurs in the hedge fund and private equity space. For the past eight years, I have led one of Citi Private Bank’s largest teams in North America. I am fortunate to have a job that allows me to use my finance skills as well as relationship management skills to benefit clients. I have found that this role provides unique access to very accomplished people and the businesses that they have built, and they rely on us for a variety of financial needs. My wife Kristen and I are proud parents of Eleanor, currently in third grade, and Teddy, currently in Pre-K. We live on the Upper East Side of Manhattan close to their schools and our work—which provides more family time even with busy jobs and lives.

My college selection process was focused almost exclusively on Jesuit schools, and I am proud to be a graduate of both Loyola Academy and Marquette University. Upon moving to New York, I met Kristen (herself a Jesuit graduate—The University of Scranton) through a mutual Loyola Academy connection, so I would say LA and all that it taught me has had a rather profound impact on my work and personal lives.

Service and giving back were prominent themes at Loyola and remain important to me to this day. Not only have I helped my alma maters officially and unofficially with various fundraising, alumni and career development initiatives, Kristen and I have long supported Jesuit educational institutions serving some of New York’s toughest neighborhoods. For five years, I served on the board of St. Aloysius School, a pre–K–8 school serving the needs of low-income families in Harlem. I am currently helping another inner-city school, Brooklyn Jesuit Prep, plan its 15th anniversary dinner. In addition to helping provide quality education for the less fortunate, I have had the great fortune of getting to work with talented teachers, administrators and countless board members and volunteers, many of whom share Jesuit education in their backgrounds.  

I have fond memories of my French teachers, Madame Schoon and Mr. Austin. I also recall colorful antics in the library at lunchtime with Mrs. Valdenaire and a number of fellow members of the Class of 1988. The teachers and administration at Loyola held us to high standards academically, but were always supportive of some latitude and antics, which were aplenty in the Class of ’88.

Career-wise, I am thrilled to have the role that I do and hope to continue leading an outstanding team at Citi Private Bank for years to come. On the personal front, I continue to be amazed by my children and the path of parenting. While perhaps the most challenging job that I have ever had, parenting is the most rewarding and worthwhile. I look forward to seeing my children mature into adults (but not too soon). Who knows—maybe there will be some Jesuit education in their future!


Meet Dan and other New York Ramblers when Loyola Academy visits the Big Apple on Wednesday, April 11!