Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Ellen Kinney
SOLD OUT! Please join the waitlist by purchasing a "waitlist" ticket for $0. If a spot opens up, we will contact you.
If you've ever started to consider options outside the corporate track, but let self-doubt or fear get in the way, this dinner is for you.
For the next Wharton Club of Seattle's Table for Ten networking and professional development series, join us for a conversation with Wes Wheless (W'06), author of The Expert's Privilege: A Self-Deployment Guide to Leaving Corporate and Going Solo. After two decades spanning BCG, Expedia, and edtech startup Reforge — and navigating two consecutive tech layoffs — Wes made the leap to solo consulting and has spent the past two years helping mid-career professionals work through the same transition. His book, publishing July 2026, lays out the mindset shifts and practical steps for corporate professionals ready to deploy their expertise on their own terms.
This intimate dinner is designed for Wharton alumni feeling the pull toward independence whether that's a vague restlessness or an active plan taking shape. One of Wes's central arguments is that you've already built deep, deployable expertise over your career, you've simply never codified or claimed it. The conversation will move through a few original frameworks: the wake-up calls that signal you're ready, how to identify and articulate the expertise you've already earned, and the five practical traits you've built in corporate that prepare you to make the leap. Whether that leap is next month, next year, or still just a lingering thought, this conversation will change how you see what you've built and what you can do with it.
Each participant will receive a Kindle edition to peruse beforehand — and a physical copy to take home.
Limited to 10 participants. The $20 non-refundable fee will hold your seat and will be credited after the dinner. Each attendee will be responsible for his/her dinner charges.
To learn more about The Expert's Privilege, visit weswheless.com.
