A Boilermaker Playbook for Success

09-18-2025

David Cooper has a unique vantage point on both launching careers and driving institutional success. The new Daniels School Business Fellow and Chief Investment Officer of the Purdue Research Foundation brings extensive experience, overseeing $7 billion including Purdue’s endowment, operating funds and retirement assets, as well as the Purdue Research Foundation. Having mentored young professionals throughout his successful career, Cooper distills hard-earned insights for job seekers and early-career talent. He also shares why Purdue’s culture shapes his leadership and how the university models excellence in higher education.

Credibility earned in drips, lost in buckets

Cooper’s first advice for career starters centers on the “first principle” he’s witnessed through years of boardrooms and team leadership: Trust and credibility matter most. “Credibility is gained in drips and lost in buckets,” he notes, stressing that even minor oversights — a typo, an unchecked fact — can erode professional reputation quickly. For anyone preparing for an interview or a big meeting, meticulous preparation is non-negotiable. “Any little mistake can damage that credibility,” he cautions, advocating that teams scrub materials and anticipate questions. This diligence, he says, is what separates those who continue to advance from those who plateau.

How to nail the interview

As someone who’s sifted through massive stacks of resumes, Cooper demystifies the interview from the decision-maker’s seat. “They have a stack of resumes this thick,” Cooper says, indicating an inch or more of thickness. “Whoever is reviewing those resumes is not looking for a reason to keep you in — they’re looking for a reason to keep you out,” he explains. He encourages candidates to:

• Master the core questions: Every interview boils down to three questions: “Can you do the job? Will you love doing the job? Will you fit with our team culture?” Structuring answers — no matter the format — around these helps candidates stand out.
• Know your strengths and real weaknesses: Don’t regurgitate clichés. “Do Myers-Briggs, Discover Your Strengths, the DiSC profile — know your top four or five strengths cold.” And choose an authentic weakness, paired with how it’s being addressed.
• Ask questions and engage: Demonstrate interest by referring to the interviewer by name and asking thoughtful questions. This shows preparation, respect and genuine curiosity.
• Small courtesies have big impact: “Be cordial to everyone,” Cooper says, noting how impressions with every staff member — sometimes, even just a brief elevator ride —carry weight in final decisions.
• Thank-you notes stand out: In an age where few send them, handwritten thank-yous or quick, sincere follow-ups are “separators”.

Early-career advice for work and life

Beyond interviews, Cooper offers actionable “real-world” workplace tips:

• Be a “Work Athlete” or Utility Player: A story that stuck with him involved legendary advice to “draft Michael Jordan and play him at center” if that’s what the team needs. Be known for saying, “How can I help?” rather than “That’s not my job.” This mindset helps careers soar.
• Prepare and have backups: Echoing a Navy SEAL adage, “One is none” — always have a backup plan, a second set of documents or someone who can step in if needed.
• Hide your cell phone: Keep distractions at bay and focus on learning, especially early on.
• Request feedback: Don’t wait until the formal review. Cooper urges junior colleagues to seek informal feedback midway through the year — so “the review is never a surprise.”
• Be thoughtful in meetings: Clarify “who will do what by when” after meetings to ensure clarity and avoid wasted time.

Why Purdue is unique — and leading

Asked why he loves Purdue, Cooper is unequivocal: “Boilermakers are head down, hardworking, ethical, analytical students and alums who are driven to achieve the mission at hand. We are humble and grateful,” he shares, referencing the famous Purdue school song and the university’s “quiet but relentless” approach. Cooper values the university’s humility and focus — a culture that values solving problems over seeking the spotlight.

He’s quick to note that at the Purdue Research Foundation, his team’s stewardship of endowment assets impacts “students, research, and faculty directly” — with distributions over $120 million annually supporting innovation and discovery. Recent high-profile successes, such as the facilitation of life-saving therapies via Purdue research commercialization and the attraction of major industry partners like SK Hynix, underscore Purdue’s national leadership in bridging academia and industry.

Cooper’s commitment as a Purdue leader

As an alumnus and now as CIO, Cooper brings not only technical expertise but also models the same “prepare, prepare, prepare” mantra he gives students, while ensuring Purdue sets the bar for credibility, impact and ethical advancement in higher education. His actionable, “from the trenches” advice — on interviews, early career and leadership — captures both what makes Purdue distinctive and what sets Boilermakers on a path to meaningful careers.