Beta Theta Pi - MIT

3 "The 'nothing but support' type of community among the Brothers while still having fun made me feel at home. On top of this, my shared values with other Brothers killed my worry of being uncomfortable or alone in the future years." –Amir (pledge) "I accepted my bid because I enjoyed time with the Brothers and other bid receivers. I also found Beta's values to be really similar to my own." –Carlos L. (pledge) Fostering Brotherhood FROM BETA PI TO THE BOARDROOM Dylan Hirsch-Shell '03 recently quit his job at Tesla and is now running for mayor of San Francisco, Calif. He is interested in seeing how his first foray into politics goes and will decide if he sticks with it, returns to work, or continues his retirement. Email: dylanh@alum.mit.edu D uring my years at MIT, the rush period was quite short compared to what it is today. Within four days of arriving, all freshmen would tour the fraternities and dorms and decide if we wanted to join. I was interested in Greek life but didn't know much about it. I toured a few houses, and when I got to Beta, I found a comfortable environment and guys who I knew I'd enjoy spending time with. I stuck around, wound up getting a bid, and settled in! One of my favorite Beta memories isn't so much a specific story, but more of a general concept. I really appreciated the diversity of backgrounds and personalities; some of the guys were very different from me, so it was a great way to learn how to get along with and also learn from diverse groups and personalities. I also enjoyed playing sports! We had two intramural basketball teams: the "good team" of elite players and a group of guys who weren't so good. I was in that group, and it was actually a lot of fun. At first, the guys laughed at me, as I had never played. (I couldn't dribble and would miss the backboard when taking free throws.) Over time, I got better and enjoyed the game. I've continued to play ever since thanks to my humble beginnings at Beta! I graduated in 1984 with a degree in aerospace engineering. I then went back to MIT for graduate school and got the equivalent of an MBA—a master's in management from Sloan—in 1987. I pursued a career in investment management and joined up with some other MIT graduates to start an investment management company focused on quantitative investing. Instead of the traditional analyst-portfolio manager approach that relies on qualitative factors, we used computers and databases to make decisions. The company was a pioneer in that field, and I spent my entire career there before retiring in 2022. Beta Theta Pi had a significant impact on certain aspects of my professional success. When I came to MIT, I didn't have the best interpersonal skills. Living at Beta taught me how to deal with navigating relationships with people, not just on a personal level but also in a corporate setting. We were also the cooks, the cleaners, and the maintenance staff of the Chapter House, which taught us about responsibility and managing a facility. Over the years, I've remained involved with Beta Theta Pi thanks to the friendships I formed as a member. I've seen folks I knew take on active, long-term roles within the local chapter alumni association and the national fraternity. Their examples are inspiring, and I'm excited to see the current undergraduates have the same opportunities to develop themselves that I once did. Since retirement, I've continued doing what I enjoyed most about my career: investing. I manage my own and my family's investments, which also offers a lot more time and flexibility. My family is mostly in Wellesley, Massachusetts, but we also have places on Cape Cod and in Dorado, Puerto Rico. I enjoy spending time with my family and participating in the Beta Foundation Finance Committee. Fun fact: I met my wife, Jennifer, while at Beta! We've been married for 34 years. If you'd like to contact John, you can send him an email at johnchisholm1962@gmail.com. John Chisholm '84 Talks Leadership, Growth, and Professional Success "I had technical know- how when I graduated from MIT, but the interpersonal skills I developed at Beta turned into valuable managerial expertise." ALUMNI NEWS "Recruitment is my favorite time of the year! The entire Chapter is united by one goal. Even though it's always a fierce competition, the guys always know how to have fun!" –Evan Hong '25

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