Alumnus Spotlight: Marco Vicel
October 18, 2024
Photo: Marco Vicel (far right) and fellow alumnus Preslav Neydelkov (far left), pose for a photo with Mr. McLean and Mr. Burns while in Salzburg this past September for the wedding of AIS-Salzburg alumnus, Constantin Schoen.
Marco Vicel spent the final three years of his high school career at AIS-Salzburg, graduating in 2008. The native of Bratislava, Slovakia studied and then worked in Miami following AIS-Salzburg, and currently calls Bratislava, Slovakia, Vienna, Austria, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates his home, spending about 4 months of the year in each city. We invite you to read the interview below with Marco as he shares his memories of AIS-Salzburg and updates us on his life since graduating.
What is/are your fondest memory or memories of attending AIS-Salzburg?
Marco: There are a lot of great memories from the time spent at AIS-Salzburg. Whether it’s the excursions, basketball tournaments, or just the regular life at a boarding school. Still today I tell people stories of how we lived together and how life went while at AIS-Salzburg. (Still today when I order pizza after 9.30pm, I do get a little nervous hahah)
Photo: Marco poses with his AIS-Salzburg high school diploma.
What did you enjoy about going to such a small international school?
Marco: The great thing about a small international school is that you can develop very close relationships with your friends. We were pretty much like a family, and it is crazy to think that now it’s 16 years since we graduated and we still see each other a couple of times a year somewhere around the world.
Photo: Marco poses with AIS-Salzburg alumni, Jakob Wimmer and Constantin Schoen, all celebrating graduation from the University of Miami. At the time of this photo, Marco had finished his MBA and Jakob and Constantin had finished their Bachelor’s degree.
Were there any teachers who made a major positive impact on your life?
Marco: All the faculty at AIS-Salzburg was great and very good at what they do. The most notable ones are for sure Mr. McLean, Mr. Burns, Mr. Agardy, and Mr. Beszczynski. They taught us a lot of discipline, and life principles, and were always available when we needed any advice. Still today I really appreciate everything they always did, and the older I get the more I understand how much they actually taught me even outside of academics. I think of Mr.McLean every time my beard gets too long, or I don’t make my bed in the morning.
Photo: Marco received awards at the annual awards ceremony in 2008 from Mr. McLean (left) and former Dean of Students, Mr. Beszczynski (right).
What have you done academically and professionally, since graduating from AIS-Salzburg?
Marco: After graduating from AIS-Salzburg, I attended the University of Miami where I got my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, and afterwards my MBA degree. I stayed in Miami working for a private equity fund for 6 years after getting my MBA. During this time, I was co-owner of a nightclub in Miami named Studio 23 for about 5 years. It was one of the most famous hip-hop nightclubs in Miami and we had lots of athletes, rappers and other celebrities attend. To name a few: John Wall (NBA), Floyd Mayweather, 50 Cent, Migos, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, and so on.
Ever since I graduated from grad school in 2014, I’ve been working with a Geneva-based private equity fund, and until today I work with them very closely. So it was very interesting from 2015 until about 2020 during the years when I owned the nightclub because I was both working for the fund and at the same time owned the nightclub. I had a business partner who was the one running it full-time and the entire day-to-day. It was funny, because during the day I was wearing a suit and tie, going to meetings for the fund, and then at night I would go to the club and entertain rappers and NBA players. Two completely different worlds.
Afterwards, I moved back to Europe where I stayed as a consultant for the company I worked for in the US, and at the same time, I joined the family business and oversaw part of our portfolio of companies.
Photo: Marco af his University of Miami graduation and sitting in a booth at the nightclub he owned in Miami.
What aspects of your education at AIS-Salzburg best assisted you in further academics, your professional life, and/or life in general?
Marco: AIS-Salzburg helped me greatly in lots of aspects. Academically it prepared me for university so I wouldn’t have any trouble adjusting. Being a boarding student also prepared me for university in the sense of not living with my parents and having to take care of myself. AIS-Salzburg prepared me for life in general, it taught me discipline, it taught me how to interact and live with other people and most of all, it gave me friendships and connections which I have today. Some of my best friends today I met at AIS-Salzburg.
Do you have any advice for students at AIS-Salzburg or applicants to the school?
Marco: I always tell people that AIS-Salzburg at the end of the day made me who I am today. It influenced where I went for university, it gave me friends for life, and in general, greatly influenced a lot of my traits and the person I am. My advice would be to enjoy the time spent at AIS-Salzburg, make as many friends as possible and appreciate the possibility of being at AIS-Salzburg. Also, don’t run in the hallways, guys make sure you shave, and make your bed in the morning 🙂