Leader of Impact: HTM Alumnus Lyman Phillips ’16

Lyman Phillips wanted to become a general manager for a platinum country club, so he majored in Hospitality and Tourism Management at Isenberg and moved to Palm Beach after his 2016 graduation. Once there, he got involved in commercial real estate investment and became founding principal and CEO of Golden Lion Capital Investments in 2018.

How exactly does a concentration in HTM translate into success in commercial real estate investments? “It’s the fundamentals,” answers Phillips. “The skills we learn translate across industries, like being able to engage in a conversation and parse the essential information or being able to problem-solve on the fly. The specifics may change, but the skills remain fundamentally the same.”

This fall, Phillips was one of two recipients of the Isenberg School of Management’s Leaders of Impact Award, which goes to members of the school community who make a positive impact on their organizations, industries, and communities.

Phillips does not hold back in his advocacy for Isenberg—in particular its Hospitality & Tourism Management Department.

“HTM is the best department in the whole country,” says Phillips. “The dedication of the faculty is incredible. It’s just obvious that they really care about their alumni, they care about their current students, and it just shows.”

Phillips hit the ground running after his graduation in 2016. Persuaded to move down to Florida by his mentor, HTM alum Matt Lambert ’92, Phillips’ goals evolved rapidly, from his childhood dream of running a country club to making a distinctive mark in commercial real estate investments. Make a mark he has, spearheading the success of Golden Lion Capital Investments in commercial real estate advisory and investment services, while investing in the well-being of the community.

In 2023, Lyman and his fundraising team of work colleagues and friends raised $120,000 for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, a cause dear to Phillips’ heart. “My father-in-law is recovering from lymphoma,” he says, “so I did this in honor of him; but I also did it in honor of Rod Warnick, a professor in the HTM program, who is recovering from leukemia.”

Receiving the Leaders of Impact award came as a surprise and offered Phillips a moment of reflection. It’s an honor he feels he shares with all those who have helped and worked with him along the way.

“When Isenberg reached out, I was a bit surprised. And I didn’t understand the impact of the award—no pun intended—until I got there. I realized, wow, this is a big award! But the honor isn’t just mine—it’s my family, my friends, my coworkers, and everyone else who has helped me to get there, including the Isenberg faculty. And it was great to be able to be there and accept this honor on behalf of everyone who has contributed to my accomplishments.”

In his acceptance speech, Phillips had plenty to say about his alma mater: “The HTM faculty and professors—like Rod Warnick, a mentor and a friend of mine to this day—make me know that I made the best decision of my life. To prospective students, soak it all in. Isenberg is the best decision you will ever make and I dare you to find a more well-rounded business school.”

Lyman Phillips and Golden Lion Capital Investments have established an endowed scholarship in Isenberg’s Hospitality & Tourism Program.

For more information about the Isenberg Hospitality & Tourism Management Program, visit isenberg.umass.edu/programs/depts/htm.

Find more information about Golden Lion Capital Investments at glcapinvestments.com. Watch Lyman's video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJgZsIkCYqs.

Spread awareness and “Be the Match”—learn more about the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at https://www.lls.org/leukemia/chronic-myelomonocytic-leukemia.