Menlo College is honored to announce Victor Nunnemaker, a first-generation college graduate and serial entrepreneur who rose above childhood adversity to become a successful father, business owner, and philanthropist, as the speaker for the College’s 95th commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 20, 2023.
As approximately 30% of Menlo College students are the first in their families to attend college, 98% receive financial aid, and nearly 80% study business, Nunnemaker’s story is sure to resonate with and motivate the more than 200 graduates at this year’s Commencement.
“Victor’s personal narrative will allow him to connect with the Class of 2023. Menlo College students come from exceptionally diverse backgrounds; many of them are overcoming significant barriers to pursue their degrees in business and psychology. Students persisted through the pandemic and as a result, they have an even stronger commitment to success – for themselves and for our community,” said Menlo College President Steven Weiner. “Nunnemaker’s story illuminates what I know is possible for each and every Menlo College graduate.”
“I hope to provide the Class of 2023 with a sense that adversity can create resilience, and education leads to opportunity,” said Nunnemaker. “I ran track and worked three jobs to pay for college. I believe I can directly relate to many of this year’s graduates, having overcome a challenging and traumatic childhood to become the first and only person in my family to get both a college and graduate degree,” Nunnemaker continued. “My perseverance and persistence in education and learning changed my life. I gained the perspective and confidence to pursue and realize the life of my dreams and learned the incredible value of having great mentors and also of being one.”
Today, Nunnemaker has amassed an impressive resume: Serial entrepreneur, investor, mentor, coach, and board member. After his graduation from higher education, Nunnemaker went on to a successful career at Price Waterhouse, Genentech, and Oracle. Then, after taking one tech company public and serving as the CFO of another, Nunnemaker went “rogue.” He founded several successful companies, growing one of them over 12 years to an eight-figure Enterprise and orchestrating several successful exits, e.g. sales of his companies.
Nunnemaker believes in the value of community building; serves in several philanthropic and other company board roles, and is the President-elect of the San Francisco Entrepreneurs Organization, the local chapter of 16,000 successful, multi-million dollar company owners.
“Looking to graduation comes with excitement, anticipation, and a bit of uncertainty. My classmates and I are set to begin our new adventures. As an entrepreneur and community-builder myself, I am eager to hear Nunnemaker’s speech. I think it will inspire me and all my fellow graduates,” said Kaua Hermosura ‘23.
Most recently, Nunnemaker purchased property in Northern California’s wine country. He loves spending time with, and is most proud of, his two children and spouse of 21 years. Together, they divide their time between Silicon Valley and learning how to graft trees, make cider, and tend to their Anderson Valley Apple Farm, called “Poleeko Ranch.”
Victor Nunnemaker earned his B.A. in Business Economics and German from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his masters equivalent in International Finance at the Hochschule (University) St Gallen (HSG) in Switzerland after being awarded the prestigious Rotary Foundation Scholarship for graduate studies. He is an advocate of a “healthy body, healthy mind”, working out daily and believes in the merits of meditation, cold plunges and a healthy semi-keto diet. Nunnemaker has many interests and hobbies, including: Cessna airplane pilot, research scuba diver, Cal Eco-Challenge adventure racer, triathlete, abalone diver, and adventurer. He is bilingual German/English, and enthusiastically, mediocre in Spanish (due to lack of practice, but he hopes to rectify that soon with trips to Spain and Latin America).
Menlo College was established in 1927. It is a small, private, non-profit, four-year, accredited, residential college located in Atherton, California. Menlo College’s location in Silicon Valley, one of the world’s most entrepreneurial and innovative geographical areas, has enabled the College to create a valuable market niche for its students locally — as well as globally. Menlo College cultivates in its students the skills, integrity, and passion to make meaningful contributions in an innovation economy.
