Alumnus Claude T. Tolbert III AB ’94 shares his story of the impact Harvard had—and continues to have—on his life and career, and explains why he supports the next generation of Harvard students through planned giving.
What attracted you to Harvard as a young man?
I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and was recruited to play football. My senior year, Dick Corbin, the assistant football coach from Harvard, came to my high school. When I met him, I stood up to shake his hand, but he gave me a bear hug. We spoke for the better part of an hour, and then he came to my house for dinner and wooed my mother. He told her, “I’m not saying Claude’s going to be the president, but he has the opportunity to walk among giants.”
What does your consulting firm, Three Sticks Management Group, do?
Startup companies usually have a technical founder and a product founder. Those cofounders are focused on solving the problem or developing the technology, yet the piece they need is how to build the business. I find opportunities where I can create value and work with these companies at an early stage. It’s extremely rewarding.
Where does the name “Three Sticks” come from?
I’m Claude the third—I’m named after my grandfather and uncle. One of the things they impressed upon me was that although we shared a name, I was my own person. “Three Sticks” is both an homage to their legacy and my statement to the world about my individuality.
How has Harvard stayed a part of your life since graduation?
In the last five or six years, my classmates have begun to share more openly about our journeys and collegiate experiences. It’s been amazing to hear their different stories. While I was at Harvard, I was young and didn’t totally appreciate what I had. Since graduation, it’s been wonderful to embrace the community and benefit from it. Going to different events around giving, I’ve seen that this is a kinship that spreads across decades.
Bequests make an enormous difference at Harvard. Why did you decide to put Harvard in your plans?
I love to see the inspiring things that the undergraduate population is doing, and I can’t go wrong supporting students. When you’re at the University you don’t see barriers, you just see opportunities. I can help empower the next generation and make those dreams possible by giving financial resources. Students have the passion to reach their dreams, and I want to be part of helping them to do that. For me, it’s a personal journey and a personal decision, but I encourage all of my classmates to think about how the University helped shape us in ways we didn’t anticipate. Providing a gift helps that next generation of students. I always tell people, there may be a limit to the financial resources that you have, but there’s no limit to what we can do as members of the Harvard community.
Explore more stories from Gift Strategies and contact University Planned Giving to learn more about establishing bequests.