William McNulty, Cofounder and CEO, Team Rubicon Global
Age: 38
KU Degree: Economics, Communication Studies (2001)
Why he’s a Hawk to Watch:
William is a Marine who served in both the infantry and intelligence. He’s a cofounder and CEO of Team Rubicon Global, an organization that enlists veterans in humanitarian and disaster relief efforts. It all began with the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, which inspired McNulty and co-founders to assemble a team of military veterans and deploy to Port-au-Prince to support emerging relief efforts.
What do you feel is your biggest achievement so far?
The privilege to work alongside people who are dedicated to a cause larger than self.
What’s your lowest career moment and how did you pick yourself up and move on?
One of our original members, Clay Hunt, committed suicide in 2011. The experience caused us to take a hard look at the organization and what it means to be a veteran. The experience caused us to shift our focus from the disaster victim to the veteran; giving back to the veteran three things they lose when they take off the military uniform: purpose, community, and identity.
Where do you hope to be in 10 years?
Happy and healthy. And on a boat.
What do you know now that you wish you could tell your 18-year-old self?
Smart people only make more complex bad decisions.
What’s your best career pro-tip?
Focus on purpose, not money. Happiness will follow.
What do you do after you’ve clocked out?
Watch my little girl, a red-nosed pit bull, chase squirrels.
What is a fun fact about you that no one knows?
I made $600 playing an altar boy in a Scott Bakula movie. Blew it all on baseball cards. If I have kids, maybe one day they’ll think that was a wise move.