In Good Company with Nicolai Tangen Michael Bloomberg: Building an Empire, Leading New York and Giving Away Billions
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Jan 7, 2026 Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LP and former NYC mayor, shares his incredible journey of building a financial empire and transforming a city. He discusses the innovative spark behind the Bloomberg Terminal and emphasizes the importance of outworking competition. Bloomberg reflects on his public service achievements in health and education, while highlighting his philanthropic efforts like funding global health initiatives and improving gun laws. At 83, his commitment to lifelong learning and giving back remains unwavering.
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Humble Beginnings Building The Terminal
- Michael Bloomberg built the first Bloomberg terminals by soldering circuit boards in an engineer's barn on weekends.
- He later pivoted to early PCs when they emerged and abandoned custom hardware.
Utility And Breadth Beat Buzz
- Bloomberg succeeded by focusing on building something genuinely useful rather than chasing trends.
- Broad functionality and adaptability made it hard for competitors to cover all customer needs.
Encourage Risk By Removing Penalties
- Don't say no and don't penalize people for trying new ideas.
- Encourage experiments by rewarding the attempt even when it fails.