TENACITY COMPOUNDS!
Submitted on June 23, 2026
MICHAEL NEWCOMER ‘05
By Betty Bone ‘00, Associate Vice President for Communications and Marketing
Talent acquisition might seem very different from a career in
biophysics; however, both require intense problem-solving skills. Michael Newcomer, a 2005 GC grad, built his career by trusting his instincts, staying open to new opportunities, and forming strong personal relationships. He is now the CEO at Riviera Partners, a private equity-backed global executive recruiting firm focusing on technology, engineering, product, and design leadership.
Newcomer was recruited to play soccer at several universities and colleges. However, GC felt like the right size and atmosphere. At the start of his GC career, Newcomer planned to major in biology and head to medical school, like his brother. However, those plans quickly shifted; his ability to adapt and find his place runs as a thread through his life.
At Georgetown, Newcomer played soccer his freshman year and was the first freshman that year to score a goal. The moment is seared into his memory because no one could believe that at 5 feet 7 inches, his first goal would be a header into the net. His soccer career ended after his freshman year. Newcomer, not one to sit on the sidelines, reached out to the cross country/track and field team to join sophomore year. It was a strange choice for someone who had never participated in cross country before. However, by his senior year, he was running first and second for the team.
“When I walked into Coach Abe Padilla’s office as a sophomore and asked to join cross country, I’d never run a cross-country race in my life — I’d done a 5K, and that was about it. He didn’t promise me anything — he just handed me a pair of shoes and a training schedule. What he taught me, without ever saying it out loud, is that tenacity compounds. You show up, you put in the work, and the results take care of themselves.”
His professors guided his career path early on, with Dr. Mark Christensen, Professor Emeritus of Biology, telling his mother during Family Weekend that he should major in chemistry instead of biology. After earning his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Newcomer went on to receive his MS and PhD in Biophysics from Yale University.
“Dr. Christensen saw something in my problem-solving that I hadn’t yet seen in myself. Switching from biology to chemistry after a conversation at Family Weekend felt like a small course correction at the time — in hindsight, it was the decision that put me on the path to Yale, to biophysics, and ultimately to the intersection of technology and talent where I’ve spent my career. The best professors don’t just answer the questions you bring them; they ask better ones than you knew to ask yourself.”
While at Yale, Newcomer decided he no longer wanted to pursue academia, the path he had initially chosen, and his reason for attending graduate school. He completed his PhD but had no clear plan for what to do afterward. So, he did what few people do: he started not just one, but two businesses.
The first business was an extension of the tutoring he did while at Yale: Bulldog Tutors, which he successfully managed. Newcomer sold the business in 2021. The second business was Elm Talent Group. At Elm Talent Group, he and his partner expanded the business to over 20 employees across three locations: New York, London, and New Haven. His background in biochemistry uniquely qualified him to understand the technological needs of firms, which has shaped his career.
A self-described problem solver, Newcomer approached talent acquisition through a technology lens but has become a leader who believes the human element will always be essential to great companies. “The future of business centers on the intersection where humans work with technology to improve efficiency,” said Newcomer, “This task efficiency will push employees to develop their emotional intelligence, making them even more valuable to their employers.” In fact, Newcomer believes that AI will eventually create more jobs.
Looking back at his time at GC, Newcomer said that being a team member and a captain requires the same skills as being a CEO, defining and articulating a clear vision, prioritizing goals, and giving employees the tools and time they need to achieve their individual goals.
For more great stories like Newcomer's, read the Spring 2026 Issue of GC Moments: The Georgetown College Alumni Magazine.
