Stay Curious and Build “Social Muscles,” Says Nolan School Namesake
Peter Nolan ’80, MBA ’82, founder of Nolan Capital and senior advisor at Leonard Green & Partners, speaking to students as the Nolan School’s Dean’s Distinguished Lecturer, October 4 (photo by Simon Wheeler)
In an auditorium packed with students for the Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series on October 4, Peter Nolan ’80, MBA ’82, offered a glimpse into his success as an investor and entrepreneur and offered nuggets of wisdom for students to foster their own success.
Nolan—a namesake of the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration—focused on the importance of leveraging opportunities and going the extra mile to succeed in today’s competitive business environment.
Drawing on decades of experience in private equity and investments, Nolan, founder of Nolan Capital and senior advisor at Leonard Green & Partners, shared with the first- and second-year students how the skills he developed during his Cornell education laid the groundwork for his future success.
Nolan sprinkled his remarks with humor and delivered advice that was practical, personal, and, at times, like something one would hear from a trusted friend.
Acknowledging the effects of COVID-19 on students’ educational and social development, he emphasized the importance of closing some of the skill gaps the isolation brought about—such as social interaction.
“The leaders of tomorrow will be those who have mastered interpersonal one-on-one skills,” Nolan noted, advising students to build their “social muscles.” He highlighted the importance of being in the office physically, interacting with coworkers and leadership, being mentally present, and developing communication skills that are often lost with remote work.
Nolan also shared a broader lesson on staying curious, keeping ahead of industry trends, and continuously learning.
“What matters is what you do with that first job,” Nolan said. “You need to keep evolving and keep growing.”
His parting advice to the students in Alice Statler Auditorium that afternoon was simple yet powerful: “Work like an apprentice and act like an owner.” Nolan urged them to be prepared, communicate effectively, and go beyond the basics.
“Do you want to shock your boss and stand out?” Nolan asked. “Do something you weren’t asked to do. Say, ‘Hey boss, I know you asked me for this analysis, but I thought I’d give you this other thing too.’ If you do that, you’ve just differentiated yourself from 99.9 percent of the population.”
Nolan’s commitment to Cornell extends far beyond lecturing in the classroom. In 2021, he and his wife, Stephanie Nolan ’84, made a historic $50 million gift to expand access to hospitality education and support financial aid. Cornell named the Nolan School in their honor.
When a student asked what motivates him, he answered, “I like what I do. I find it fun. I could have retired long ago. But I have no desire to.”
His passion and his enthusiasm for his work left students with an enduring message: Enjoy what you do, and success will follow.