When our Senior Counsel Nani Marchand-Sánchez sat down with Jayson Ramos for Mentores en Línea, she revealed how an innate sense of justice and natural leadership abilities shaped her path from childhood to becoming one of Puerto Rico’s most influential legal minds and partner of Ferraiuoli.
Early Signs of Leadership
“I was always drawn to leadership roles,” she reflects, recognizing this natural inclination from an early age. This innate drive towards guiding others, combined with a deep-seated sense of justice, made her path to law seem almost predestined. Throughout high school, her ability to bring people together and advocate for positive change consistently emerged, laying the foundation for her future role as a transformative legal and organizational leader.
Building Ferraiuoli: A Vision of Excellence
In 2003, alongside Blas Ferraiuoli, Fernando Rovira, and Eugenio “Geño” Torres, Nani Marchand-Sánchez helped establish what would become one of Puerto Rico’s leading law firms. Her journey underscores a crucial lesson in professional growth: “Opportunity doesn’t become luck unless you seize it,” she emphasizes. This philosophy has guided her approach to both practicing law and developing future leaders.
Throughout the conversation, Nani Marchand-Sánchez highlighted a fundamental truth about professional success: “If you’re not passionate about what you do, you won’t be happy. And if you’re not happy, you can’t perform at the levels the organization expects from you.” This belief in the importance of aligning passion with purpose has been a cornerstone of her leadership style at Ferraiuoli.
Building Strong Teams and Fostering Growth
One of Nani´s key insights focuses on team building: “Strive to find people and partners who are as good as you or better.” This approach has helped Ferraiuoli cultivate an environment where excellence isn’t just encouraged – it’s expected. Under her leadership, the firm has become known for developing strong legal talent and fostering an inclusive workplace culture.
She credits much of her success to building a strong “tribe” — her support system of mentors, colleagues, and family members who believed in her even during the most challenging times.
Today, Marchand-Sánchez dedicates significant time to mentoring the next generation of legal professionals, particularly women in law. Her commitment to “sending the elevator back down” reflects her understanding that success comes with the responsibility to help others achieve their potential.
Three Key Takeaways from the Conversation:
- Opportunity must be seized to become luck – success requires action and courage.
- Passion is essential for sustained excellence and leadership.
- Surround yourself with people who match or exceed your caliber. Collaborate with people who inspire and challenge you to grow.
Looking Forward
As Ferraiuoli continues to grow and evolve, Nani´s leadership philosophy serves as a blueprint for combining professional excellence with personal purpose. Her story reminds us that true leadership isn’t just about achieving personal success – it’s about creating pathways for others to succeed.
To learn more about Nani Marchand-Sánchez’s insights on leadership, personal growth, and building a purpose-driven career, watch the complete interview on YouTube.
This conversation offers valuable insights for both aspiring legal professionals and leaders across industries, demonstrating how principled leadership and a commitment to excellence can create lasting impact.
Contact María Judith (Nani) Marchand-Sánchez
Senior Counsel
P: (787) 777-1361
F: (787) 766-7001
