William S. White Winnetka Business Success
William S. White Winnetka studied building construction at the Georgia Institute of Technology before continuing at Columbia University, where he received his Law Degree and MBA.
White began working for Lehman Brothers’ real estate and investment banking but quickly decided to go into private equity at NorthStar Capital Investment Corp. He worked in New York for three and a half years, focusing on a large billion-dollar company that they owned and helped oversee all the legal documents and all aspects of financing, acquisitions, and dispositions for hotel assets.
William S. White Winnetka continued working at various real estate companies in the condominium market and hospitality sector until 2005 when he co-founded the Montessori Academy of Chicago. A few years ago, they opened a middle school and now serve children from infant to grade eight. Currently, the school has more than 330 students in Chicago’s West Loop.
1. Tell us a bit about what you do.
I consider myself an entrepreneur who focuses on the operations, finance, and the legal aspects of a business. I derive great pleasure in working with people with vision and helping them execute their goals and aspirations.
2. What gave you the idea for Montessori Academy of Chicago? How did it start?
I had been working at the time in real estate finance with a small child at home, and in searching for education opportunities for him, I realized what I wanted for him did not exist in the Chicago community. After months of searching, I understood that there was an opportunity here to create something to fill a need that wasn’t otherwise being met.
3. What’s your favorite thing about your chosen profession?
The ability to problem solve at multiple levels, to work with a diverse group of people with various skill sets and organize them in a way to collectively meet objectives and work as a team.
4. What keys to being productive can you share with us?
I think it’s important for anyone to continually ask themselves what they don’t know, what they should know to be productive and helpful with their organization and to try to build a community around themselves through which they can learn and develop new skills and understanding.
5. Tell us one long-term goal in your career.
I would like to replicate the success and achievement I was able to accomplish with the founding and development of the school, and through that, find myself working with exceptionally talented and bright individuals.
6. What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned through the course of your career?
To never stop learning. The world is continually evolving, and therefore as professionals and as humans we have to evolve with it and, to do so, you need to understand the education process and the learning process doesn’t stop when we leave school.
7. What advice would you give to others aspiring to succeed in your field?
I recommend that people continually work to get to know people within the profession, in their field, and also get to know many people outside of the field. This will help them to have a broader understanding of various businesses and professions, as well as a more diverse perspective on life than what’s directly in front of them.
8. What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
Anything where I can spend time with my two sons. I particularly like wakeboarding, wake surfing, and skiing. I’ve also been volunteering with Habitat for Humanity for over a year, helping to build houses for lower-income families.
9. Name a few influential books you’ve read and/or websites you keep up with that you’d recommend to readers.
The Economist
Crain’s Chicago Business
10. What advice would you give your younger self?
Never quit. Life never goes as we plan, but it never stops being interesting.
Website: williamswhitewinnetka.com
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