For Pete Chiappetta ’02, career success has come from recognizing his passions, understanding his strengths, and finding ways to bring the two together—an approach that first took shape during his time at GFA.
Now a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at Domain Capital Group in Atlanta, Pete leads investments across media, entertainment, and technology. His work sits at the intersection of entertainment and finance—fields that may seem unrelated at first glance. For Pete, however, this connection is a natural extension of the balance he first discovered at GFA, where he learned to align his interests with his capabilities.
Pete joined GFA in sixth grade during a challenging transition. “GFA was a savior for me,” he says. At the school, he found a close-knit community where intellectual curiosity was valued and students were encouraged to explore a wide range of interests.
At GFA, Pete was a student, athlete, and artist. He was captain of the cross country team, a member of Beachside Express, performed in school plays, and was an honors student. “You could be many things at once,” he says. That freedom to explore different interests, alongside small class sizes and close relationships with teachers, played an important role in building his confidence and his sense of identity.
When asked about his teachers, Pete reflects, “I can’t single out just one. There were so many who were patient, engaging, and deeply invested.” He recalls a learning environment where teachers made classes fun and consistently gave their time and energy. He credits GFA with preparing him exceptionally well for college and life beyond, helping him build a strong academic foundation while fostering lasting confidence and curiosity. Those years, he says, were “core, formative, and foundational” in shaping who he has become.
After graduating, Pete attended Skidmore College before transferring to Emerson College, where he began focusing more directly on his interest in the entertainment industry. Through Emerson’s internship program, he secured a position in Los Angeles before ultimately deciding to move back to New York. After returning, he began building a career in the television industry, drawing on connections from his Emmy Award-winning sister, Annie Chiapetta Allen ’98, who worked in television production.
A key turning point came early on when he was passed over for a promotion. His manager told him he was qualified, but that the role might not be the right long-term path for him. It was difficult to hear, but it prompted him to step back and reassess. Looking back, Pete appreciates the experience, which pushed him to think more intentionally about his strengths and interests.
Drawing on his background in math, Pete pivoted to finance and earned an MBA from Fordham University, leading to a career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in valuation on the transaction services side. Another pivotal moment came as he and his wife started a family. With a newborn daughter at home, Pete realized the jobs he was considering would require significant time away and prevent him from spending the kind of time with his daughter he wanted. So instead, he chose to prioritize family and bet on himself, a decision that ultimately led him to Domain Capital Group, where he now runs a vertical focused on entertainment finance and media investing.
At Domain, Pete built a career that reflects his interests and strengths in a meaningful way. He focuses on the financial side of entertainment, investing in media and content with long-term value. His work includes underwriting projects and managing portfolios designed to deliver consistent performance over time. In recent years, that work has included investments in high-profile film and media projects, including Academy Award-winning films such as One Battle After Another and Sinners, as well as iconic television shows like Friends, The Big Bang Theory, and Grey’s Anatomy.
Across his career, Pete has come to value integrity, relationships, and patience. Honesty in particular is a core tenet for him and central to how he approaches his work. “At Domain, our business is built on trust,” he says. “Doing what you say you’re going to do matters.” In an industry that can move quickly, he believes in a disciplined, thoughtful approach. That perspective also shapes the advice he offers students. “You don’t need to have everything figured out early. Be open to change.” He encourages students to take the time to understand what they enjoy and what they do well. “The goal,” he says, “is to bring those two things together over time.”
Pete’s path has not been linear, but it has been shaped by a series of thoughtful decisions—about his work, his priorities, and the kind of life he wanted to build. In the end, that clarity has led him to a career that reflects not just what he does well, but what matters most to him.