Joel Peterson

The Robert L. Joss Adjunct Professor of Management at Stanford Graduate School of Business

Schools

Stanford Graduate School of Business
Simplilearn

Expertise

Biography

Stanford Graduate School of Business

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.

Bio

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

Joel is also the Founding Partner and Chairman of Peterson Partners, a Salt Lake City-based investment management firm with $1 billion under management. Peterson Partners has invested in over 200 companies through 13 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 45 years and have 7 children and 25 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

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

Awards and Honors

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

Executive Education & Other Non-Degree Programs

Advanced Leadership Program for Asian-American Executives Develop global leadership skills to advance your career as we focus on effective training for high-achieving Asian-American executives.
Executive Leadership Development: Analysis to Action Learn to lead with confidence in this rigorous general management program for executives on the verge of achieving even greater things.

Videos

Courses Taught

Asian Leadership Program

Stanford Graduate School of Business

Stanford, California, United States

Aug 3, 2025

Read about executive education

Cases

Paradise Bakery & Cafe: The Challenge of Success | SM285 Joel Peterson, Mark George2017

Bonobos Inc. Early Management Challenges | E368 Joel Peterson; Bethany Coates2009

Bonobos Inc. | E297 Bethany Coates, Joel Peterson2008

TodaysMama | E294 Katherine Bose, Joel Peterson2008

Amanda's Restaurants | E306 Katherine Bose, Joel Peterson2007

Bruce Wallace | E256 Patrick Arippo, Joel Peterson2007

CPG Inc. (Supplement A): Linda Lane's Private Information | E307 Supplement A Katherine Bose, Joel Peterson2007

CPG Inc. (Supplement B): Brian Gordon's Private Information | E307 Supplement B Katherine Bose, Joel Peterson2007

CPG Inc. Public Information | E307 Katherine Bose, Joel Peterson2007

Cross Link Software | E250 Bethany Coates, Joel Peterson2007

Three Common CEO Missteps (A Perspective From The Boardroom) | E201 Harold Grousbeck, Joel Peterson, Jeffrey Pfeffer, Alex Tauber2006

JetBlue Executing the Plan (A) | E182A H. Grousbeck, Joel Peterson, Alex Tauber2005

JetBlue Executing the Plan (B) | E182B H. Grousbeck, Joel Peterson, Alex Tauber2005

Tom Dixon and Macho Taco, Goal Setting Vignette | E199 Joel Peterson, Joshua Spitzer2005

Valley Fire Protection (B) | E137B Mike Harkey, Joel Peterson2005

Blackwell Consulting Services | E173 Joel Peterson, Alex Tauber2004

JetBlue | E150 Harold Grousbeck, Joel Peterson, Alicia Seiger2003

Russell Poore | E164 Joel Peterson, Alicia Seiger2003

Lambda Healthcare Investors | RE131 Craig Blanchard, Jack Kolodny, Joel Peterson2002

Figueroa @ Wilshire | RE127 Joel C. Peterson, Kevin Taweel1993

University Circle | 2003