Time is Treasure

As a retired KPMG partner, Hughes knows that time is money. Yet, for him, it is his personal investment when mentoring and advising students and alumni that is his greatest reward as a member of the Wharton community.

A consistent donor to The Wharton Fund since he graduated from WEMBA, the Wharton Executive MBA Program, in 1991, Hughes “gets” the value of giving dollars and cents. But his most treasured commitment lies in interacting with entrepreneurs who are starting out in business or who are making a career change.

“The question I ask myself most is, ‘How can I help?’” Hughes said. “Real knowledge of how to help an individual is so impactful.” Hughes takes the time to know the students he interacts with as a Volunteer Expert in Residence (EIR) for Venture Lab and as a judge and advisor during (and after) the Venture Lab Startup Challenge.

Today’s startups cover broad areas of interest, including crypto, fintech, healthtech, cybersecurity, and foodtech, to name a few. It is my reward to help future, and established, businesses develop successfully.”Brian Hughes, W’81, WG’91

“I love sharing my expertise in the startup space,” Hughes said. He serves as a consultant to startups as well as billion-dollar companies and brings that high-level knowledge to the floor when he is judging pitches at the Penn-Wharton flagship entrepreneurship event and working as an EIR.

Hughes said the world is wide open for entrepreneurs, and he feels fulfilled by providing advice and guidance to Wharton students and alumni who are making first steps or those who may be taking a well-established venture public.

“Today’s startups cover broad areas of interest, including crypto, fintech, healthtech, cybersecurity, and foodtech, to name a few,” Hughes said. “It is my reward to help future, and established, businesses develop successfully.”

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