Peter joined in 2013 and leads Accel’s talent efforts, focusing on building high-value relationships across our network and helping entrepreneurs build high-performance teams. Prior to Accel, he was a founding partner at True, a boutique retained executive search firm, and was VP of Executive Talent at Greylock. Earlier in his career, Peter was a software architect at Boeing. He’s from California (but spent a good chunk of his life on the East Coast), and graduated from SUNY Brockport and CMU.
Get to know Peter
What was your first job?
My first job was at a family camp on a local lake in Upstate New York. I was 14, so I had to get an exemption from my school to work. I'd say that nothing instills a good work ethic and an appreciation for higher education like washing pots and pans for 8 hours a day in the heat of summer!
What's something people are surprised to learn about you?
That I had a career, or really two careers, before getting into Talent. My first job after graduating from college was in commercial graphic design, where I primarily did consumer packaging and corporate identity. I then went back to school for computer science and joined Boeing in the information systems organization. I used to have a real job =)
If you could master any skill instantly?
Metal fabrication and welding. Someday, I will open a custom motorcycle shop on the PCH in Newport Beach!
What is your most used emoji, gif, or meme?
😂 I think that's joy. Because without that, it's a long, hard road.