We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Will Tondo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Will below.

Will, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career

As an entrepreneur and business owner, I have learned a great deal over the past few years that has shaped me into the person I am today. I developed my sense of drive and organization during my school days, and now, five years out of college and nine years out of high school, I find that my career path is quite different from what I expected at those points in my life. While I wouldn’t change a thing, there are aspects of my educational experience that I wish had been different.

Throughout high school and college, I considered myself a solid student. I earned great grades, followed the rules, and studied diligently, but I often felt I was not achieving my full potential. This is why I became heavily involved in extracurricular activities—sports, drama, student government, ROTC—you name it. These programs fueled my passion and drive beyond the classroom, helping me develop into a well-organized individual. They provided real-world opportunities, bolstered my skill set, and allowed me to achieve things I once thought were beyond my reach, from earning prestigious scholarships to interviewing business leaders across various sectors. My involvement outside of the classroom was undoubtedly the highlight of my high school and college experiences.

I was eager to participate in everything because I had a wide range of interests. After graduation, I wanted to attend a university that would educate me about the business world, but I never gravitated toward a specific path. I am both creative and analytically driven, with interests in finance and operations, leaving me uncertain about what to pursue. My success in extracurricular activities reinforced my desire to excel in all areas.

The reason I share this is that the current educational system often feels cookie-cutter. Students must adhere to a standardized curriculum with limited flexibility unless they engage in extracurricular activities, which may not be available to everyone. It is only in university that students gain some freedom to choose their path. However, this often feels like a forced choice, especially when the country is in dire need of tradespeople, a path that is rarely promoted in public education. My father has built successful businesses in mechanical work and plumbing, creating significant wealth for our family, yet high schools seldom encourage students to pursue these career paths.

This topic is deeply personal to me because I believe our current education system hinders the potential of younger generations rather than supports their future growth opportunities.

If I could advance the current education system, I would allow students to tailor their high school experience to their interests, making only life skills courses mandatory. Classes on financial literacy, communication skills, and team building would be fantastic additions for high schoolers. I would also mandate work-based studies at a younger age, connecting students with the local community to support small businesses while developing resume-building opportunities and enabling job shadowing and mentorship. This would help students understand the diverse career paths available to them.

Grades should serve as benchmarks for improvement rather than a primary focus. I would encourage project-based learning that integrates multiple subjects, fostering creativity and problem-solving skills through real-world applications. Equal resources should be provided to all students, regardless of their chosen career paths—whether in the armed forces, trade work, or higher education—so that no student feels pressured to pursue college if it doesn’t align with their goals.

If higher education is the choice, I would reduce the time required for a degree from four years to two, allowing for more financial freedom and flexibility while concentrating on relevant coursework for future careers. I want to ensure that students are proficient in technology while also teaching them how to use it thoughtfully and ethically. Finally, there must be a focus on incorporating mental health awareness and coping strategies into the curriculum, helping students build resilience and effectively manage stress.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Will Tondo, and I am a multi-time founder and entrepreneur, with expertise in product management, brand marketing, and customer relationship building. I am the Co-Founder of RestauRent, which is an online platform helping people discover places to book their next private event. I am also the Co-Founder of House Enterprise, which is a media and marketing company focusing on craft beer, content, and community. In addition, I am also a partner in Providence Brewing Company and Rhody House Networking Group.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

I met all of my founders and business partners either directly or indirectly from Bryant University. Through organizations, friendships, or networking, the importance of building relationships and never burning bridges is true to the core. You never know who you might me, and what you might create years later.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

I think the biggest piece of advice is leading by example. I never instruct someone to do something if I wouldn’t do it myself or haven’t tried myself. When your team knows that you are in the weeds with them and that you work just as hard on tasks, a positive morale and trust is built within the company.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wtondo.com
• Instagram: wtondo
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamtondo

Image Credits

Self