An Education Rooted in Character: Spencer Peek's CDS Story
From sports management to law and emerging spaces few have explored, Spencer Peek’s path is guided by curiosity and character. At the center of it all is the foundation built at Carrollwood Day School.
Spencer Peek’s journey is a reminder that careers do not have to follow a straight line to be meaningful or successful.
After graduating from Carrollwood Day School in 2016, Spencer attended St. John’s University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in sports management. During his time there, he gained hands-on experience through a variety of internships and roles across the sports industry, including working with Columbus Crew SC and New York City FC. Those early opportunities gave him a deeper understanding of the business side of sports and introduced him to the professional world he was eager to explore.
That curiosity led him to OpenSponsorship, a startup company that connects brands with athlete influencers. While working there, Spencer began to notice that many of the people around him held law degrees. That realization sparked a shift in his thinking and ultimately led him to pursue his JD at the University of Miami Law School.
While in law school, Spencer’s interests continued to evolve. During the pandemic, he began exploring finance and cryptocurrency, an area that has since become central to his work today. At the University of Miami, Spencer was deeply involved in the academic community, serving on the UM Law Review as a junior staff editor before becoming a symposium editor. He also took on a leadership role as a symposium leader. In his final year of law school, from August 2024 through May 2025, Spencer worked with the DeFi Education Fund, where he wrote about issues facing cryptocurrency and decentralized finance.
After passing the bar, Spencer accepted a position at Winston & Strawn LLP, a global law firm known for its work in transactions, disputes, and regulatory and enforcement related matters. It is work he genuinely enjoys, in part because it sits in a space that is still emerging and evolving.
Spencer credits much of who he is today to the foundation he built at Carrollwood Day School.
“I attended Carrollwood Day School from Pre-K through 12th grade and it is undoubtedly the most significant pillar of my childhood, outside of family.
CDS was more than a school for the Peek family, it is the community that we built our life in after moving to Tampa in the late 90s. I remember Bitha Woodritch making jokes to me in the drop-off line before I was even old enough to attend school.
The best friends I have are from my time at CDS. Most of all, however, the character education that CDS provided gave me and my siblings a foundation to approach the world with. It has served us incredibly well and we are forever grateful.”
That emphasis on character and community left a lasting impact. “The character education that CDS provides has given me and my siblings a foundation for life. CDS taught us how to be members of our community, to have empathy for others, and to take pride in our work. This foundation has served us incredibly well and we are forever grateful.”
Some of Spencer’s most meaningful memories from CDS reflect both academic inspiration and the power of teamwork. “Two come to mind: (1) learning history and humanities from Mrs. McCartney, I truly believe her passion and willingness to engage the students in real conversations helped to spur my passion for history and in turn played a large role in me attending law school; and (2) being a part of the CDS football and soccer teams, I still remember when we beat Shorecrest in penalty kicks in the regional semi-final on South Beach.”
When asked about a favorite CDS tradition, his answer came easily. “The annual wiffle ball tournament!”
Spencer also shared that the integrity and character he developed at CDS remain deeply relevant in today’s world. He believes his success is rooted in what CDS taught him about relationships, teamwork, and how to treat people. Those lessons, especially through sports, are ones that stay with you for life. He also spoke about the importance of caring, even when it feels uncomfortable, and embracing moments that may feel awkward or challenging. Caring, he noted, teaches you heartache, but it also gives meaning to the work you do. Taking yourself seriously and taking your work seriously matters.
This year, Spencer returned to campus as the keynote speaker for TEDx Carrollwood Day School, a full circle moment that came eleven years after he spoke at the very first TEDx CDS. It was a powerful reminder that the lessons learned at CDS do not fade with time. They grow, evolve, and continue to shape lives long after graduation.
We love sharing our alumni achievements with the CDS community. If you are a CDS Alumni and would like to share your accomplishments, please contact our Alumni Engagement Coordinator, Carli (Gauthier) Mianne '16 at cmianne@cdspatriots.org and let us know what you have been up to since leaving CDS. We look forward to hearing from you!