Joel C. Peterson (1947–2025) | Stanford Graduate School of Business Skip to main content Menu Enter the terms you wish to search for. Faculty All Faculty Profiles › Faculty & Research Faculty Profiles Joel C. Peterson (1947–2025) Joel C. Peterson (1947–2025) The Robert L. Joss Adjunct Professor of Management About Experience Research Teaching Media, Insights & News Bio Joel was 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 served on more than three dozen boards over the past 45 years, including The Dallas Market Center, Texas Commerce Bank (Dallas), and Asurion. He served on the boards of Franklin Covey and MGT Insurance.     Joel was 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 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 bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University, where he was valedictorian and student body president. Joel was awarded the 2005 Distinguished Teaching Award and the 2016 Robert K. Jaedicke Silver Apple Award at the GSB. He and his wife, Diana, were married for over 50 years and had 7 children, 31 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. Stanford GSB Affiliations Faculty Affiliate Grousbeck-Holloway Center for Entrepreneurial Studies In Memoriam Joel Peterson, Former Chairman of JetBlue and Beloved Teacher-Mentor, Dies at Age 78 Sowing the seeds of principled leadership and entrepreneurship for generations of students and alumni Related Faculty in Memoriam 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 Show More 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 Show More 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. Show More Books The 10 Laws of Trust: Building the Bonds That Make a Business Great Joel C. Peterson (1947–2025), David A. Kaplan HarperCollins Leadership September 17, 2019 Degree Courses 2025-26 GSBGEN 542: Engineering a Remarkable Life OB 363: Leadership Perspectives 2024-25 GSBGEN 542: Engineering a Remarkable Life OB 363: Leadership Perspectives 2023-24 GSBGEN 542: Engineering a Remarkable Life OB 363: Leadership Perspectives 2022-23 GSBGEN 542: Engineering a Remarkable Life OB 363: Leadership Perspectives STRAMGT 210: Managerial Skills 2021-22 OB 363: Leadership Perspectives STRAMGT 355: Managing Growing Enterprises 2020-21 OB 363: Leadership Perspectives STRAMGT 355: Managing Growing Enterprises 2019-20 OB 363: Leadership Perspectives STRAMGT 210: Managerial Skills STRAMGT 355: Managing Growing Enterprises 2018-19 OB 363: Leadership Perspectives STRAMGT 210: Managerial Skills STRAMGT 355: Managing Growing Enterprises Show More Non-Degree Courses Programs and Non-Degree Courses Young Presidents' Organization Cases SM285 Paradise Bakery & Cafe: The Challenge of Success Joel Peterson, Mark George 2017 E368 Bonobos Inc. Early Management Challenges Joel Peterson; Bethany Coates 2009 E297 Bonobos Inc. Bethany Coates, Joel Peterson 2008 E294 TodaysMama Katherine Bose, Joel Peterson 2008 E306 Amanda's Restaurants Katherine Bose, Joel Peterson 2007 E256 Bruce Wallace Patrick Arippo, Joel Peterson 2007 E307 Supplement A CPG Inc. (Supplement A): Linda Lane's Private Information Katherine Bose, Joel Peterson 2007 E307 Supplement B CPG Inc. (Supplement B): Brian Gordon's Private Information Katherine Bose, Joel Peterson 2007 E307 CPG Inc. Public Information Katherine Bose, Joel Peterson 2007 E250 Cross Link Software Bethany Coates, Joel Peterson 2007 E201 Three Common CEO Missteps (A Perspective From The Boardroom) Harold Grousbeck, Joel Peterson, Jeffrey Pfeffer, Alex Tauber 2006 E182A JetBlue Executing the Plan (A) H. Grousbeck, Joel Peterson, Alex Tauber 2005 E182B JetBlue Executing the Plan (B) H. Grousbeck, Joel Peterson, Alex Tauber 2005 E199 Tom Dixon and Macho Taco, Goal Setting Vignette Joel Peterson, Joshua Spitzer 2005 E137B Valley Fire Protection (B) Mike Harkey, Joel Peterson 2005 E173 Blackwell Consulting Services Joel Peterson, Alex Tauber 2004 E150 JetBlue Harold Grousbeck, Joel Peterson, Alicia Seiger 2003 E164 Russell Poore Joel Peterson, Alicia Seiger 2003 RE131 Lambda Healthcare Investors Craig Blanchard, Jack Kolodny, Joel Peterson 2002 RE127 Figueroa @ Wilshire Joel C. Peterson, Kevin Taweel 1993 2003 University Circle Joel Peterson, A. Seiger Show More In the Media 10 Laws of Trust Value Walk August 07, 2016 The Real Reasons Clinton and Trump Lost America’s Trust Fortune August 04, 2016 How To Build A High Trust Organization Forbes August 03, 2016 JetBlue’s boss worried about next US president New York Post July 02, 2016 Trust: More Valuable Than Ever Forbes January 10, 2013 Joel Peterson offers tips for entrepreneurs on laying a foundation for trust-building. In a Great Business, People Trump Things Forbes November 17, 2012 Joel Peterson, the Robert L. Joss Consulting Professor of Management, explains the value of building high-trust organizations. Show More Insights by Stanford Business Joel Peterson: How Entrepreneurs Should Lead in Times of Crisis April 14, 2020 Face hard truths, act decisively, lean on your board, and communicate “lavishly,” says the JetBlue chairman. A Look Back at 2016 December 19, 2016 Read 10 Stanford Business stories from the past year, including pieces on work-life balance, power, and management. Twelve Business Books to Read in 2017 December 06, 2016 Reading recommendations from the Stanford GSB community. How Smart Leaders Build Trust June 13, 2016 The chairman of JetBlue explains how a high-trust culture makes a better company (and life). Brian Spaly: “Don't Chase Waterfalls or Unicorns.” April 11, 2014 The founder of Trunk Club discusses shopping for men, on-the-job challenges, and his greatest achievement. Joel Peterson: What Are the Most Common Hiring Mistakes? July 16, 2013 The Stanford GSB lecturer and chairman of JetBlue airlines explains how to bring the best people on board. Show More School News Alyssa Rapp, MBA ’05: What Matters to Me Now and Why April 23, 2024 “The people with whom you partner personally and professionally punctuate every step of the journey.” Community in Conversation: The Business of Politics April 23, 2018 Two first-time political candidates talk about applying the lessons they learned at Stanford GSB. Professors Kasznik, Peterson, and Skrzypacz, Honored by Students May 01, 2005 Students honored professors Andrzej Skrzypacz and Ron Kasznik, and lecturer Joel Peterson with three outstanding faculty awards. 655 Knight Way Stanford, CA 94305 USA Footer contact links Contact Us Visit Us Stay In Touch Follow Us Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Footer 1 Companies, Organizations & Recruiters Stanford Community Newsroom Footer 2 Library Jobs MyGSB © Stanford Graduate School of Business Footer legal links Accessibility Non-Discrimination Policy Privacy Policy Terms of Use Stanford University