Brady Wood’s journey from epic party-thrower to seasoned entrepreneur and CEO

At the December 20, 2025, SMU Commencement ceremony, alumnus and Dallas business leader Brady Wood ’90 was the featured speaker. The seasoned entrepreneur and CEO of WoodHouse has more than three decades of experience in restaurant, entertainment and real estate development. Additionally, he has founded and led a wide range of start-up and institutional investment ventures.

Tell us a little about your experience at SMU.

When I got to SMU, we got thrown some curveballs in the first week. With the death penalty for the SMU football team, our class had no football for the rest of our time at SMU. But it really brought our class together. We rallied, and we ended up being super close. We planned our own events. We made our own fun. It’s part of why I’m in this business. And it was these curveballs that set us on the course we’re on today.

How did you become an entrepreneur while still a student in college?

To create our own school spirit, we threw epic parties, incredible events and music festivals. Through those events, I became social chair of my fraternity, and I did a lot of events at a local bar called the Rhythm Room. Over time, I sold gift cards, and my brother and I sold our cars to close the gap on buying this bar, and that bar is what eventually became the Green Elephant. I was 20 years old and a junior when we opened.

How did SMU enhance the skills and qualities you needed to be successful?

When I was in college, entrepreneurship wasn’t considered teachable. You were born with it. But SMU had a professor, Jerry White, in the Cox School of Business who started an entrepreneurship class, and it really taught the basics of business, as opposed to focusing on only one discipline within business. I loved that class and all of my classes at the Cox School. They prepared me for what I was doing. Beyond that, my fraternity led me to managing a band, which led me to meeting my wife, who introduced me to my business partner. Everything I have today, I can trace back to my experience at SMU.

What’s the number one thing you want graduating students to know as they begin their careers?

Stay open-minded to the opportunities and people that you meet. Look at everything as an opportunity. Doors are opening all around you. Are you looking through the crack, or are you walking through? You have connections. You have friends. Cultivate these relationships. Keep moving.

Why is it important to you to be involved as an SMU alumnus?

My generation is eager to reengage with the school, and I’m going to help with that. Hopefully I can inspire my class and the classes behind me, because SMU did everything for me. It’s a wonderful asset for Dallas, and we should be embracing it. That’s what we’re going to do together with Jay Hartzell, and I’m excited about that.

Why has it been important to you to be heavily involved with the Dallas community, in both professional and service capacities for several organizations?

Dallas is an exceptional city. It’s a big community – a big-small town – and everything we’ve done here is about bringing people together. Things that preserve Dallas culture are very important to me. I mainly focus on the arts, the music and architecture – things that are here but need to be highlighted.

As a business owner, what is your advice to businesses or organizations who are looking to partner with institutions like SMU?

The best and brightest come out of SMU. Any organization or corporation that works with SMU will get the best of the best.

How do you feel about the future of SMU?

I think Jay is taking everything in the right direction. He’s also engaging with Dallas and increasing enrollment. I’m so excited about SMU.