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Henry R. Kravis

Financier; co-founder of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here
When I went through school, I was in a hurry. I was an economics major as an undergraduate, and I was a finance major in graduate school. I was in a hurry to succeed when I got out in the business world. I’m sorry I didn’t take more courses in the humanities and in history and in the arts.

Academy of Achievement interview, 12 February 1991 source ↗

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Richard Leakey Palaeoanthropologist and conservationist; head of the Kenya Wildlife Service
It’s very hard to give people advice, because you don’t know their personality. Personality is a big part of that. Everybody is faced with passing opportunities. Many people watch the opportunity come and watch it go. I say, if an opportunity comes and you have got the self-confidence, grab it. Ride it for a bit. If it’s not the right opportunity, do something else, but be positive about opportunities.
Recorded Academy of Achievement recorded interview, American Academy of Achievement, 21 June 2007 source ↗
Brian Chesky Co-founder and chief executive of Airbnb
Getting rich slow isn't actually slower. It's slower in year one, but it might be faster in year seven.
Recorded Chesky's remarks to Fortune in 2017, quoted by Business Insider, Business Insider (Markets Insider), August 2020 source ↗
Akio Toyoda President of Toyota Motor Corporation, 2009–2023; chairman from 2023
Don't screw it up. Don't take it for granted. Try new things, even if you're old. Do the right thing, because if you do the right thing, the money will follow. Decide what you stand for. Finally, don't worry about being cool—be warm.
Recorded Babson College Graduate Commencement, Babson College (Babson Thought & Action), 21 May 2019 source ↗
Charlie Munger Vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, 1978–2023
Luckily, I got at a very early age the idea that the safest way to try and get what you want is to try and deserve what you want. It's such a simple idea. It's the golden rule so to speak. You want to deliver to the world what you would buy if you were on the other end. There is no ethos, in my opinion, that is better for any lawyer or any other person to have.
Recorded USC Gould School of Law commencement, Speakola, 2007 source ↗

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Question Which teacher, parent, coach, or friend most made you who you are, and what did you learn from them? Relationships
I had a teacher who was a great influence on me, when I was in boarding school at Loomis, Jim Wilson. He was my economics teacher and he was also my dorm head. I didn’t know what economics was before I took this course. I was really moved by the course. I was moved by him. That’s probably one of the reasons I chose the field of business.
Recorded Academy of Achievement interview source ↗

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