Join the Coterie of Professionals.
The Esteemed Coterie of Business Leaders stands as a distinguished fellowship devoted to the principles of humble leadership, lifelong learning, and the collective celebration of each member’s accomplishments. Admission to the Coterie is by formal application and subject to approval by the existing body.
The Esteemed MBA teaches best practices in everyday people management. The best managers get to know the individual, constantly communicate on performance, and push for personal and professional growth.. The greatest leaders are those who inspire and the Esteemed MBA guides students through a journey of deep self reflection to become a person that people want to follow hence our philosophy of Followership and its core principles of Trust, Compassion, Stability, and Hope.
Meet Gary Peterson
Proven Executive Leadership: Bootstrapped founder and CEO of Gap Intelligence, a competitive intelligence firm in the IT, consumer electronics and home appliance industries. Successfully exited in 2023.
Industry Thought Leader: Regular Forbes columnist on Business Leadership and Management, sharing insights that shape business culture, management, and leadership.
Award-Winning Management: Honored as 17× San Diego’s Best Places to Work, 2× Most Admired CEO, and 2× Aggie 100 Winner (awarded by Texas A&M’s May’s School of Business), along with accolades from the San Diego Chamber of Commerce and City of San Diego.
Trusted Advisor: Served for over ten years as Small Business Advisor to the City of San Diego, guiding City policy for the betterment of small businesses. Currently serves on the Board of Directors for several private enterprises and non-profits.
Real-World Expertise: Over 20 years of hands-on experience—including sleepless nights over payroll, countless management missteps, and hiring mistakes—turning real-world challenges into invaluable lessons.
Lifelong Learner & Mentor: A career built on learning from mistakes and the guidance of top consultants, mentors, thought leaders and industry literature, now dedicated to teaching best practices in management and leadership.