Charles Widger’s Top Lessons on Entrepreneurship and Leadership

Charles Widger has spent his career building businesses, navigating industries, and turning his entrepreneurial vision into lasting impact.

After serving as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, Charles attended Villanova University School of Law and held roles in tax law, financial planning, marketing and distribution, and investment management. Drawing on this experience, he founded Brinker Capital and established himself as a pioneer in the investment management industry. Charles and his family also founded East Bay Merchant Partners, an asset management firm, and the Widger Family Foundation, which supports mental and behavioral health organizations, educational initiatives, and investments that strengthen the Greater Philadelphia region’s economic health.

Charles has also left a lasting mark on legal education. In 2016, a significant gift from Charles and his wife, Barbara, led Villanova University to name its law school in his honor. This month, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law celebrated the 10th anniversary of that milestone, recognizing a decade of the Widgers' extraordinary impact on the institution. Through their generosity and commitment to innovation, Charles and Barbara have helped advance Villanova's "Where Law Meets Business" philosophy, supporting scholarships, faculty, and programs that integrate business principles, entrepreneurship, and practical experience into legal education.

Through his entrepreneurial journey and philanthropic leadership, Charles has developed valuable insights into building successful businesses and creating lasting impact. Here are his top lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs today.

“Bet on Yourself”

Charles identified this lesson as one of the most transformative of his life. His decision to found Brinker Capital was not based on a perfectly developed business plan or a guarantee of success. Instead, he chose to bet on himself, trusting that his industry knowledge and experience would help him navigate the challenges of building a business.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, Charles emphasized the importance of becoming a student of the industry they hope to enter. He encouraged them to learn from industry experts, understand the challenges and opportunities within their chosen field, and identify gaps where existing solutions fall short. From there, entrepreneurs can develop solutions that address unmet needs and create value for others.

Ultimately, entrepreneurship requires the confidence to take the leap. Aspiring entrepreneurs must be willing to embrace uncertainty, trust their abilities, and figure out what comes next.

“You Can’t Be Successful if You Don’t Fail First” and “Leaders Must Learn How to Own Up and Clean Up”

As both a leader and entrepreneur, Charles emphasized that one of the most important lessons he learned throughout his career was the importance of owning up to mistakes and learning to forgive himself for making them. Leaders who approach mistakes with openness, honesty, and accountability build greater trust and loyalty among their employees.

Charles encourages leaders to acknowledge mistakes openly, take responsibility for them, help their teams resolve them, and apply the lessons learned moving forward. Charles explained that leaders must also learn to forgive themselves and avoid dwelling on past mistakes once they have been addressed.

“Find It, Fix It, and Forget It”

Charles recognized that mistakes are inevitable in fast-growing entrepreneurial environments, where employees are constantly making decisions, taking risks, and trying new things. In Brinker Capital’s early days, he encouraged his employees to follow a simple philosophy: “Find it, fix it, and forget it.”

The principle is straightforward: identify the problem, resolve it quickly, learn from the experience, and move forward. Charles believes leaders must foster an environment where employees feel comfortable acknowledging mistakes rather than hiding them. Addressing problems promptly helps prevent small issues from escalating and allows the organization to keep moving forward.

“You Are Either Growing, or You Are Going”

One mistake Charles recognized in his early entrepreneurial journey was thinking too small. When he founded Brinker Capital, he initially focused on building the business locally. He eventually realized that he needed to think bigger and build a national firm to achieve his vision.

Charles emphasized that continued innovation and growth are essential to surviving in a competitive marketplace. Businesses cannot afford to remain stagnant; they must continually evolve, expand, and identify new ways to create value.

“To Have a Successful Company, You Must Be Ethical”

For Charles, ethics are more than a principle of good leadership; they are fundamental to building a successful company. When he founded Brinker Capital, he committed the firm to operating as a fiduciary to its clients, demonstrating its commitment to putting clients’ interests first and conducting business with care, loyalty, and honesty.

Charles emphasized that ethical conduct is essential not only to maintaining strong client relationships but also to retaining employees and building a cohesive organization. Employees are more likely to remain committed to leaders and organizations that demonstrate accountability, transparency, and integrity.

For Charles, ethics are both a core principle and a competitive advantage. Operating ethically builds trust with clients, employees, and business partners, which strengthens relationships and creates the foundation essential for a lasting, successful business.

“To Be a Successful Entrepreneur, You Must Learn How to Manage Risk” and “Being a Lawyer First Was One of My Most Valuable Assets”

Charles acknowledged that entrepreneurship inevitably involves risk, but he emphasized that successful entrepreneurs make informed decisions by developing a deep understanding of their industries. He identified his legal background as one of his most valuable assets, explaining that the analytical framework lawyers develop can be applied across industries to evaluate opportunities, anticipate challenges, and manage risk effectively.

He also highlighted the importance of the argumentative and persuasive skills cultivated in law school. These skills are essential for entrepreneurs negotiating deals, communicating their vision, and advocating for their businesses. For aspiring entrepreneurs, a legal education offers more than substantive legal knowledge; it also provides a practical framework for making sound business decisions and navigating uncertainty.

“Take Advantage of All the Opportunities Available at Villanova”

For Villanova law students aspiring to become entrepreneurs, Charles’s recommendation is simple: take advantage of every opportunity available at Villanova Law. He pointed to the significant institutional investment the university has made in entrepreneurship over the past decade, which he believes has transformed the law school’s offerings and strengthened its national standing.

Charles highlighted Villanova’s entrepreneurship center, business law and externship opportunities, and professional development resources as particularly valuable for students interested in the intersection of law and business. These programs allow students to develop not only substantive legal knowledge but also the leadership, business, and entrepreneurial skills that are increasingly important in today’s legal profession.

He views this institutional investment as a key factor in Villanova Law’s ability to attract talented students and professors and strengthen its national reputation. Beyond these resources, however, Charles emphasized the value of the Villanova community itself. He encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to leverage the university’s extensive alumni network by identifying graduates working in industries or fields that interest them and reaching out. Whether seeking career advice, exploring an industry, or learning from another entrepreneur’s experience, students can gain valuable perspective by connecting with members of the Villanova community. For Charles, Villanova’s culture of supporting one another is one of the university’s greatest assets, and students should actively take advantage of it.