Williamsburg Sun

Shoe designer Weitzman to share entrepreneurship insights at W&M

Celebrated shoe designer and entrepreneur Stuart Weitzman will visit William & Mary this week to share his story and advice with students.

The visit, hosted by the Office of the Provost, will include a talk open to all faculty and students at 6 p.m. on March 24 in Tucker Hall, Room 127A. The event will include a Q&A with Weitzman, who is known for designing one-of-a-kind shoes for celebrities. A reception will follow. The event and reception are free but online registration is requested; students are asked to share two questions in advance, if possible.

“I have long admired Mr. Weitzman’s beautiful and creative designs, which have graced some of the most famous red carpets and catwalks worldwide. But I have equally admired his entrepreneurial spirit and business savvy, which have led to his extraordinary success,” said Provost Peggy Agouris. “We welcome him to campus and look forward to the business and design insights he will generously share with our students.”

Earlier in the week, Weitzman will tour the entrepreneurship center and have private meetings with faculty, administrators and a select group of students.

“My university education and career experiences have served as such an essential base to my own life and work that I have made it my goal to pass along some of the lessons I’ve learned to as many creative students and aspiring entrepreneurs as I can,” said Weitzman. “It gives me great joy to teach, mentor and also learn from them, and I am particularly excited about sharing this with everyone who attends my talk at an American institution as venerable as William & Mary.”

Weitzman began designing shoes for his father’s company before going on to found his own self-named shoe company. Today, his shoes are sold in more than 70 countries around the world and are a popular pick among celebrities. They can be seen at red carpet events on the feet of such public figures as Beyonce, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, Taylor Swift and Jennifer Lopez.

In addition to his design work, Weitzman is a strong supporter of several charitable organizations, including hospitals and medical research centers, youth and sports groups and cultural institutions. He also regularly mentors students in entrepreneurship and design.

Weitzman graduated from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. That university later honored him by renaming their design and architecture school the Stuart Weitzman School of Design.

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