Joel C. Peterson

The Robert L. Joss Adjunct Professor of Management
Joel C. Peterson

Bio

Joel is the former Chairman of the Board of Overseers at the Hoover Institution at Stanford, as well as the former Chairman of the Board at JetBlue Airways and Packsize. He has served on more than three dozen boards over the past 45 years, including, The Dallas Market Center, Texas Commerce Bank (Dallas), and Asurion. He currently serves on the boards of Franklin Covey and MGT Insurance.    

Joel is also the Founding Partner and Chairman of Peterson Partners, a Salt Lake City-based investment management firm with $2.5 billion under management. Peterson Partners has invested in over 300 companies through 16 funds in four primary asset classes: growth-oriented private equity, venture capital, real estate, and search funds.

Prior to Stanford Business School and founding Peterson Partners, Joel was Chief Executive Officer of Trammell Crow Company, then the world’s largest private commercial real estate development firm. Joel earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and received his Bachelors degree from Brigham Young University, where he was valedictorian and student body president.

Joel has been awarded the 2005 Distinguished Teaching Award and the 2016 Robert K. Jaedicke Silver Apple Award at the GSB.

He and his wife, Diana, have been married for over 50 years and have 7 children, 31 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Academic Degrees

  • MBA, Harvard Business School, 1973
  • BS, Brigham Young University, 1971

Academic Appointments

  • At Stanford University since 1992.
  • Adjunct Professor of Management, Stanford GSB, 2011-present
  • Lecturer, Stanford GSB, 1992-1995, 1997-present

Awards and Honors

  • MBA Distinguished Teaching Award, Stanford GSB, 2005
  • Robert K. Jaedicke Silver Apple Award, Stanford GSB, 2016

Service to the Profession

Board of Directors

    • JetBlue
    • Franklin Covey, Inc.
    • Packsize

    Past Member

      • Bonobos
      • Ladder Capital Finance
      • Integra Healthcare
      • Dallas Market Center
      • Trammell Crow Company Board
      • Texas Commerce Bank Dallas Board
      • Covery Leadership Center Vice-Chairman
      • Asurion
      • Continental Fire and Safety
      • Accudocs

      Professional Experience

      • Founder, CEO, Chairman, Peterson Ventures, Inc., 1991-present
      • Managing Partner, Trammell Crow Company, 1988-1991
      • Regional Partner, TCC Pacific Northwest, 1988-1989
      • Comanaging Partner, TC Group, 1987
      • President, Trammell Crow Residential, 1986
      • CFO, Trammell Crow Company, 1976-1985
      • Founder, Trammell Crow Services, 1985
      • Treasurer, Trammell Crow Company, 1975
      • Project Manager, Trammell Crow International (France), 1973-75
      • Student Body President, Valedictorian, Hinckley Scholar, Brigham Young University

      Research Statement

      Since 1992, Joel Peterson has taught courses in real estate, entrepreneurship, and leadership at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Peterson’s course focus is presently on the effective management and leadership of growing businesses. His abiding interest, however, is in students and the important decisions they will make in the business world and in their personal lives.

      Books

      Joel C. Peterson, David A. Kaplan
      HarperCollins Leadership
      September 17, 2019

      Non-Degree Courses

      Programs and Non-Degree Courses

      Cases

      Joel Peterson, Mark George
      2017
      Joel Peterson; Bethany Coates
      2009
      Bethany Coates, Joel Peterson
      2008
      E294
      Katherine Bose, Joel Peterson
      2008
      Katherine Bose, Joel Peterson
      2007
      Patrick Arippo, Joel Peterson
      2007
      Katherine Bose, Joel Peterson
      2007
      Katherine Bose, Joel Peterson
      2007
      Katherine Bose, Joel Peterson
      2007
      Bethany Coates, Joel Peterson
      2007
      Harold Grousbeck, Joel Peterson, Jeffrey Pfeffer, Alex Tauber
      2006
      H. Grousbeck, Joel Peterson, Alex Tauber
      2005
      H. Grousbeck, Joel Peterson, Alex Tauber
      2005
      Joel Peterson, Joshua Spitzer
      2005
      Mike Harkey, Joel Peterson
      2005
      Joel Peterson, Alex Tauber
      2004
      E150
      Harold Grousbeck, Joel Peterson, Alicia Seiger
      2003
      Joel Peterson, Alicia Seiger
      2003
      Craig Blanchard, Jack Kolodny, Joel Peterson
      2002
      Joel C. Peterson, Kevin Taweel
      1993
      Joel Peterson, A. Seiger

      In the Media

      Insights by Stanford Business

      April 14, 2020
      Face hard truths, act decisively, lean on your board, and communicate “lavishly,” says the JetBlue chairman.
      December 19, 2016
      Read 10 Stanford Business stories from the past year, including pieces on work-life balance, power, and management.
      December 06, 2016
      Reading recommendations from the Stanford GSB community.
      June 13, 2016
      The chairman of JetBlue explains how a high-trust culture makes a better company (and life).
      April 11, 2014
      The founder of Trunk Club discusses shopping for men, on-the-job challenges, and his greatest achievement.
      July 16, 2013
      The Stanford GSB lecturer and chairman of JetBlue airlines explains how to bring the best people on board.

      School News

      April 23, 2024
      “The people with whom you partner personally and professionally punctuate every step of the journey.”
      March 27, 2019
      These Stanford GSB women are changing their industries and their communities.
      April 23, 2018
      Two first-time political candidates talk about applying the lessons they learned at Stanford GSB.
      May 01, 2005
      Students honored professors Andrzej Skrzypacz and Ron Kasznik, and lecturer Joel Peterson with three outstanding faculty awards.