On March 25, renowned shoe designer and entrepreneur Stuart Weitzman shared his insights on creativity, risk-taking, and business success in an Open VISIONS Forum (OVF) lecture at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Eager to connect with students, Weitzman also visited a fashion marketing class at the Charles F. Dolan School of Business.
Weitzman presented an OVF lecture titled "An Entrepreneur’s Journey on a Road Less Traveled.” Prior to his presentation, he spoke directly with the next generation of business leaders in a classroom at ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ Dolan, where he enthusiastically inquired about the students' personal interests and career aspirations.
Sharing anecdotes about his own journey as an entrepreneur, Weitzman's OVF lecture covered topics from creativity within advertising campaigns to personalized shoes for celebrities. He offered opportunities for students to engage and network, even giving one student the chance to model a pair of his shoes — covered in $1 million worth of diamonds — during his presentation.
According to Paige Governale ’26, Weitzman shared that “you have to have a passion and ambition for what you're doing as well as recognize as the importance of meeting people along the way.”
While developing his eponymous shoe brand, Weitzman noted in his presentation how he continued to draw, design, and develop his business through continuous improvement and a drive to meet people in the industry.
Jaclyn Noble, an adjunct faculty member in the Dolan School of Business, hosted Weitzman in her fashion marketing class prior to his presentation. Like her students, she found Weitzman's visit to be “a powerful moment for ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ’s future entrepreneurs and fashion leaders.”
“Stuart showed us how shoes — so often the supporting character — can take center stage in driving a fashion narrative," Noble said. "It was an inspiring, insightful masterclass in balancing creativity with business, while staying true to brand DNA.”
In a conversation following his visit, Weitzman expanded upon his leadership philosophy, emphasizing the importance of building teams with individuals who are not only intelligent, but also kind and highly communicative.
“If I can hire someone who’s absolutely nice and also smart,” he said, “they’re going to keep their team.” He also noted that communication skills are key: “You have to be able to inspire, explain, and encourage your team. If you have all of those qualities and are interviewing with Stuart Weitzman, you always get a second interview.”
Reflecting on his own unexpected career pivot — from aspiring Wall Street executive to iconic shoe designer — Weitzman shared that the defining moments of his journey often came from taking chances and embracing the "road less traveled." That mindset, he said, is what ultimately led to the long-lasting impact and legacy of his brand.
“My title summarized it — the Road Less Traveled. What I did, not just in business, but also in life. I lived on the road less traveled. I worked on the road less traveled. And I found the first time I did it, how exciting it was, how much fun it was, and how people noticed it.”
