Brandon Chubb (2015 BA in Economics)

Deacon Spotlight Update: Where are they now?

Headshot of Brandon Chubb, He is wearing a tux, and smiling

We reconnected with our alumni who we previously featured to check in with their careers and lives. Here’s an update from Brandon!

Managing Partner at Captain Partners in Atlanta, GA

Tell us about what you’re doing now. What does your job entail? What are you currently working on?

I am Managing Partner for the VC firm Captain Partners. Captain Partners is a nascent investment firm, with a team full of Wake Forest alums, that sets out to create unique value for our Limited Partners. We are able to do this by investing in diverse founding and executive teams, having high quality co-investment partners alongside top VC funds, and cultivating a strong community amongst our LPs. We are raising Captain Fund I in Q1’21, so currently we are sourcing deals, speaking with founders, and doing our due diligence on companies we believe fit our investment thesis and that we can add value too.

What is the most significant lesson have you learned in the time since you wrote your Deacon Spotlight?

The most significant lesson since last time, two years ago, that I have learned is a lesson I already knew but maybe didn’t realize the significance of it. That lesson is to “reach back”. What I mean by that is to make yourself available to assist others, in some fashion or another, who might ask. The amount of people who have helped me get to where I am by making themselves available to take a phone call, respond to an email, grab a bite to eat, etc is paramount to me being in the position I am today, chasing my career dream and goals. I spoke last time about the importance of relationships and I believe “reaching back” is a huge component of having great and healthy relationships with your peers and others.

As you think about your future, what advice will you keep in mind as you set goals and make plans?

The best advice that has gotten me through all my personal and professional career challenges is knowing that everything happens for a reason. By believing that, and if you control the “controllables”, no matter what life throws at you you will be able to take it on and be at peace with the outcomes. This is crucial advice because, the way our society is structured now, everyone is highly visible and that lends itself to comparison.

Professional Athlete in the National Football League in Mableton, GA 

Brandon Chubb Head shot

Brandon Chubb (’15)

Tell us about your current job role/employer and what you’re currently working on.

I am currently playing in the NFL. This past year, I started the Chubb Foundation as a way to give back to the Atlanta community and surrounding communities. I am exploring a couple of investment opportunities that may fit with my brand and future endeavors.

What personal and/or career experiences did you have prior to landing your current job and leading to where you are now?

During the 2017 season, I was sidelined with an ACL injury and was moved to Injured Reserve status for the Detroit Lions. During the 10 months, I used the abundance of free time I had, while rehabbing and recovering, to prepare for my future after football. I gained experience with two externships: one with Fanatics and the other as a Legislative Intern for the U.S. House pf Representatives for Congressman John Lewis. While I was at Wake, I volunteered weekly for the Winston-Salem based organization, H.O.P.E. This experience helped to shape my perspective on the initiatives I want to tackle with my foundation.

What was the most challenging aspect of your first “real world job” and what did you learn from it?

My first “real world” job was playing in the NFL for the LA Rams after I graduated from Wake. The most challenging aspect of that experience was just being independent and trying to view myself as “My Own CEO”. The independence aspect was challenging because I was on my own, in another state across the country, and surrounded by coaches and teammates I had never worked with before. Adapting to my new surroundings and culture was a major adjustment. Also, adapting to the reality of “being fired” was challenging. The NFL is just like any other job where you are hired to perform certain tasks, and to be productive at those tasks for the organization, while competing with thousands of others who are just as good, or better, than you trying to take your position. College is the total opposite; I had a guaranteed job for 4 years with my scholarship.

What advice would you give to new Wake Forest graduates about developing their personal life habits after college?

I would tell them to definitely value the relationships made during college because as we’ve all experienced, it’s a “small world” and you’ll never know when, how, where, or who can assist you in your future endeavors. Value your daily life and experiences; have a work/life balance in a way that doesn’t take away from your appreciation of daily life. What I mean by that is take care of business when you are working so that you don’t have to worry about that stuff when you’re off. There is so much to life and you are so young and can never get this time back so enjoy it when you can.

How have you made personal and professional relationships in your city, company, or community?

I value relationships greatly. I take every opportunity I can to meet fellow alumni. Living in Atlanta is a big hot spot for Deacs and there are a lot of alumni events that allow you to cross paths with them. When I do cross paths, I make sure to value that interaction and extend it past that one time. I have also used Linkedin, alumni events, and finding alumni in my area through LinkedIn to find people with common interests as me to meet for dinner.

Have you been mentored by anyone at Wake Forest or in your professional life? If so, what impact has that relationship had on you?

Yes, many people! Ashley Wechter had a large impact on my from a community involvement standpoint. Ashley always had her doors open to student athletes in Miller Center, and one day I took advantage of that opportunity and never looked back. Dwight Lewis & Skip Brown have been important as well. They always extended a hand to student athletes and once I established that relationship with those two guys I went to them for any advice, concerns, or questions. Lastly, Warren Belin, my Linebacker coach at the time. He was a great example of how to be a man and handle yourself in a respectful and Godly manner everyday and being around that all the time set a great example for how to handle myself.

What are your future career goals or plans? How are you being intentional about working towards them?

My future career goals are to run my own business. This goal might entail being a franchisee of a business or owning and operating my own business. That is my start goal. I’m entrepreneur-minded, so being able to have a business I own/operate would be ideal.

Story published in July 2018. For current updates about Brandon, visit his LinkedIn page.