St. Luke's "Lunch & Lead" with Chris Barkley of Platform Ventures

"Hearing 'no' is a good thing," Chris Barkley said, as he related the hundreds of no’s he received when seeking investors for Peloton. In addition to Peloton, Barkley has launched and sold several businesses in the course of his career.

Barkley, a St. Luke’s parent and managing director of Platform Ventures, shared that when you believe in your product, the "no" will make you stronger and help you refine the products and business you are building.

This is just one of many pieces of business advice Barkley relayed to potential student entrepreneurs during his Lunch & Lead offered through St. Luke’s Center for Leadership.

Barkley modeled outstanding public speaking skills for students. He also explained venture capital, private equity, DTC (direct to consumer), CA (consumer acquisition), and the IPO (initial public offering) process in clear, accessible language.

The Center for Leadership’s Lunch & Lead series is organized by student leaders. The goal: “to demystify leadership one slice of pizza at a time.”

St. Luke's is a secular private school in New Canaan, CT, for grades 5-12. St. Luke's mission is an exceptional education that inspires a deep love of learning, a strong moral compass, the commitment to serve, and the confidence to lead. St. Luke's Center for Leadership advances our mission by helping students develop exceptional leadership ability. Visit today.