Gary Leopold '77 – Communication Major

CP Travel President Gary Leopold '77 says when it comes to professional success, luck is underrated.

"It's about being in the right place at the right time, and being smart enough to take advantage of it," he says.

Gary has always worked hard to prepare for lucky breaks, adding that many casual conversations on airplanes or at conferences have led to unexpected business opportunities.

"Always try to do your best, because you never know who you might be impressing."

After graduating from Curry with a Communication degree, Gary worked briefly as a student activities coordinator at a college before taking a public relations position at Sonesta Hotels.

"They didn't have much money, and I didn't have much experience," he quips. "So it was the perfect marriage."

After a couple of years, Gary went to work at a footwear company, before returning to Sonesta as its new director of public relations. When his boss left to start a consulting company, specializing in travel marketing, she asked Gary to join her.

"I was fortunate she believed in me," he says. "She saw something in me I didn't necessarily even see in myself. She became that mentor who really invested in me and changed the course of my career."

The two spent about 20 years in business together, with Gary eventually buying her share of the company. Five years ago, he merged with Connelly Partners, a Boston-based integrated marketing agency.

Since merging with Connelly Partners, Gary still works with key clients and serves as a strategic resource for his team, while gradually stepping back from daily operations.

"I'm getting older and preparing for the next phase of my life," he says. "I'm still figuring out what I'm going to do ‘when I grow up,' as they say."

In reflecting on his considerable career accomplishments, Gary says he feels proudest when catching up with former employees.

"Many of them tell me those were some of their happiest years, professionally," he says. "I think we created an environment that people enjoyed, where they felt they did good work and found a sense of camaraderie. There's a family of people who have stayed in touch and gone on to enjoy great careers. That makes me very proud."

Gary says he developed his leadership skills through a combination of education and experience. At Curry, he learned to communicate clearly and effectively – a skill that has proven critical, whether in articulating a strategic vision or delivering employee feedback.

Gary advises young, aspiring business leaders to show initiative, present themselves well, and conduct themselves honestly. He also suggests taking a broad view of networking, as more than just shaking hands and exchanging cards at professional events.

"Networking also means going on informational interviews, doing unpaid internships, and volunteering," he says. "Get out there, pursue your passions, and give back. Show others the kind of person you are."

Finally, when you find yourself in the right place at the right time, be ready.

"I can't say where I've wound up is where I planned to land all along," Gary says. "Stuff just happens, and you gravitate toward work you love."

To learn more about Gary’s career – and see why he calls both empathy and pragmatism key in leadership roles – check out the full Curry Magazine profile, part of our “Curry in the C-Suite” series.