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When Bill Carpou ’76 VSB visited ����ר��’s campus for the first time, it felt like home. It still feels like home years later, whether he returns to watch a basketball game or simply meander through Bartley Hall.

After earning his degree in marketing from VSB, Carpou started his career with Xerox Corporation and earned his securities license at Merrill Lynch. Later, he spent 18 years at IKON Office Solutions before accepting a position as an operating partner at the Private Equity firm, Blackstone. He currently serves as CEO of Octane, a technology accelerator in Newport Beach, California.

Coupled with his many professional accomplishments, Carpou remains proud of his ability to develop and mentor others. Stretching his associates beyond what they thought possible, Carpou finds it, “so rewarding to be a part of someone’s journey and the success they accomplish along the way.”

Such a focus on mentorship formed early within Carpou’s career. Once he became responsible for managing others, he realized the importance that leadership and talent development played towards one’s personal and organizational success. “����ר�� taught me the basics of service to community and others before self,” Carpou said. “I had mentors who gave me a piece of themselves, for which I am always grateful. Now, it is my turn to do the same.”

At Octane, Carpou’s work has a large-scale impact, not only for the people he leads but for the community he serves. He helps entrepreneurs accomplish their dreams by connecting them with capital and talent, fostering thousands of jobs in the process.

This work is future-oriented, helping to achieve Octane’s mission of “building the SoCal of tomorrow.” Through it all, he draws upon the values instilled within him at ����ר��, giving a piece of himself to others. “I am at a point in my career where giving back is more important than taking or accomplishing more,” Carpou said. “What inspires me is to see the positive impact I can have on someone’s life.”

Despite residing almost 3,000 miles away, Carpou has never wandered too far from 800 E. Lancaster Avenue.  He serves as a member of the President’s Advisory Council for ����ר�� and a former member of the VSB Dean’s Advisory Council. A parent of a ����ר�� alum, he would be proud, one day, if his grandson decided to join Nova Nation, returning to the place that always felt like home.