The economics department at George Mason has attracted Nobel laureates and other high-profile figures. Professor Tyler Cowen says the secret is hiring people who believe in what they're doing. "You just have to show up in the room, right? So it's one case where you don't have to agonize over optimal interview questions"
How can one identify and predict talent? On a search to answer this question and others like it, Tyler Cowen joined venture capitalist and entrepreneur Daniel Gross to explore the art and science of finding talent in their new book Talent: How to Identify Energizers, Creatives, and Winners Around the World. In a panel discussion hosted by Shruti Rajagopalan, Cowen and Gross discuss the applications of their new book, particularly how lifestyle characteristics can indicate an individual is capable of great creativity and talent.
Daniel and Tyler also discuss undervalued talents and skills, what talents they look for in the start-up and investment world, why there is no good chocolate ice cream to be found in San Francisco, what their exercise preferences indicate about their personalities, how they approach identifying talent in different countries and industries, how immigration impacts entrepreneurialism, the short-comings to Zoom interviews, what a messy desk reveals about a person, and more.
Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video.
Recorded June 29th, 2022 Other ways to connect
Photo credit: Drew Bird Photo