Student Team Spotlight on Hired Hands Manager, Louis Whittle ('22)

This month we would like to introduce one of the general managers of the Hired Hands team, Louis Whittle (‘22) who is a rising senior studying Policy Analysis and Management in the School of Human Ecology with minors in Business and Applied Economics and Management. Born in Leicestershire, England, Louis spent his early years there until he moved to the Bay Area with his mom, dad, and two sisters. Ironically, despite his British roots, Louis’ favorite holiday is the Fourth of July, otherwise known as Independence Day in commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. How silly.

Louis was drawn to Cornell for a few reasons: the vast amount of “nature to do,” the chance to experience the Northeast, and, as a recruited athlete, the opportunity to row for an elite program. Most importantly, Louis was excited to surround himself with a diverse group of people: “at Cornell, you get to meet so many cool and interesting people— it’s really what makes the experience.” Aside from his immense Student Agencies commitment, Louis is involved in Big Red Leadership Institute, PAM mentorship group, and serves as a captain of the men’s lightweight rowing team. As an experienced team member and leader, Louis has taken on the hefty demands of being a Hired Hands General Manager well.

After working a Big Red peak in the spring of 2020, Louis was excited about the prospect of joining the Student Agencies team. With the Ivy League’s cancellation of competitive athletics this past school year, Louis, like many other athletes, found himself with an unprecedented amount of free time on his hands. In a normal year, balancing athletics with a position at Student Agencies would be nearly impossible, but recognizing the opportunity to expand his Cornell experience, Louis applied and was subsequently hired for the Hired Hands GM position.

Managing the most demanding division of Student Agencies has presented many challenges for Louis and his co-manager Josh. Regardless, Louis is grateful for the experience the job has offered. Not only has it given him hands-on experience with leadership and handling high-stakes situations, but it has also allowed him to meet amazing people. When talking about the team of workers that Louis and Josh rely on for Hired Hands to operate, Louis shared that they are “the hardest working guys I have ever met. They’re all just really great—despite the tough hours and tiring work, they never complain and always show up. We always have loads of fun. The opportunity to meet the guys we hire for our jobs has really made it all the more worth it.”

When we asked Louis about his plans after college and whether or not Hired Hands has influenced them in any way, he scoffed and said “I hate that question.” After some coaxing, we were able to get him to share a little bit about his lifelong dream of escaping to Nepal and becoming a Sherpa: “I get that it’s a tough job, but after working Hired Hands, I really think I have what it takes. Grit, guts, and gains: that’s all you need. Scaling Everest is definitely on the bucket list, and I think doing it as a Sherpa would enhance the experience.”

Thank you, Louis, for sitting down with us for our spotlight article interview. Tune in next month to learn about the other half of the hired hands dynamic duo: Josh Lehrman (‘23).

Some fun facts about our guy Lou:

Favorite Cookie—Wegman's M&Ms

Favorite Meal— His mum’s shepherd’s pie

Hidden Talent—Can eat unlimited chocolate chip cookies

Favorite Holiday— 4th of July

Favorite Soccer Team— Tottenham

Favorite Player— Harry Kane

Favorite SAI Team— Campus Promotions/Social Chairs (Nat & Bridge) “They bring the funk”

Fatal Flaw—Has never tried peanut butter