We know him as a Brooks School Hall of Fame inductee and 1986 Independent School League Soccer Player of the Year. These days, though, Bill Chisholm '87 is best known for his business acumen and recent success — leading the group that purchased the Boston Celtics for a record-breaking $6.1 billion.

The Georgetown, Mass., native returned to campus on January 9 to give a talk about his career, motivations and advice for current students, whom he says are the enviable ones in "such a great spot here ... with your whole life in front of you." 

Chisholm talked with current Brooks soccer players, including Latu Kayira '27 (above), who just weeks earlier had been named to the third team of the inaugural High School on SI Prep School All-America boys soccer squad.

Chisholm — now living in California, where he is co-founder and managing partner of the private equity firm Symphony Technology Group — began his visit to campus with lunch with the boys soccer team, including Celtics-themed green shamrock shakes in the dining hall, followed by a tour of campus to see what had changed since he graduated.

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS FROM HIS VISIT:

The alum took a moment to check out the athletic center and his team's banners, plaques and trophies, which are still displayed.

The highlight, though, was his remarks to the campus community, when Chisholm fielded questions and shared the secrets of his success.

“I don't really know what success is because I don't think it's a real thing,” he admitted during his assembly talk. “It just depends on how you frame it, because everyone can be successful in their way.”

Alongside Brooks School Board of Trustees President John Barker '87, P'21, P'23 and current soccer player Oliver Harris 28, Chisholm offered his advice.

“You're in a great peer group, a fantastic school and your whole life is in front of you,” he told students. “So, take charge of that and put yourself in the situations where you have joy, but also do some stuff that challenges you.”

Sharing that he’s learned “way more from the failures” he’s experienced, Chisholm recommended connecting with mentors and named a few who made an impact on him that he still feels to this day, including former soccer coach and Faculty Emeritus Dusty Richard, coach and faculty emeritus Ray Broadhead '70 and coach Bob Moore.

“I think they probably saw more in me than I saw in myself and they pushed me to realize some of that potential,” he said. “It wasn't all about, ‘Go score the goal,’ or whatever. It was helping me to be a better person, a better teammate. That stuff really stuck with me.”

“I wasn't perfect,” he added. “I screwed up a lot of it, but this is a great place to do that, and they gave me the space to do it. They pushed me to do it… You need other people to believe in you, and I think Brooks does a really good job of creating that kind of fabric for folks.”

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During his remarks, Chisholm talked about his motivation today. “Putting [the Celtics purchase] deal together took me literally over a year,” he said. “[I get] a lot of happiness from [doing things that are hard] … and things that have purpose. That's where, for the Celtics, the big thing for me is the off-court stuff, the community.”

Describing Jayson Tatum visiting local children, Chisholm marveled, “It's ‘bam.’ Jayson Tatum says, ‘Go do your homework.’ The kids are going to go do their homework. The impact that these guys can have, particularly on underrepresented, underprivileged parts of the New England community, is incredible.”

Giving back through the team and the platform it provides “is my purpose,” said Chisholm. 

Why did he buy the Celtics? “I did it for the love of basketball, the chance to be part of something like the Celtics … to be part of a sports team again, and for passion.”

To the teenagers who have no idea what they want to do in the future or what their purpose is, he offered reassurance. “It’s going to take a while to figure out what ‘that thing’ is,” Chisholm said. “…But for now, I think Brooks does a great job of opening up all different kinds of opportunities and I would suggest that you try those things. Do things that are out of your comfort zone. That'll help you figure out what you ultimately want to do.”

“Don't stress about the fact you don't really know what that is, because I definitely didn't know what it was when I was here,” he added. “But I'm excited for all of you because you are set up to do some really spectacular things and, hopefully, you all take advantage of that.”