Guy Kawasaki's Remarkable People Why Anointment Decides Who Really Rises, with Toby Stuart
12 snips
Jan 7, 2026 
Toby Stuart, a professor at UC Berkeley Haas and author of Anointed, sheds light on how success often stems from the unseen transfer of status rather than just merit. He discusses how institutions like universities shape our careers through credibility, often compounding advantages over time. Toby critiques the perception of meritocracy in Silicon Valley, highlights the random dynamics in elite selections like Y Combinator, and raises concerns about AI potentially reinforcing existing biases. His insights reveal the hidden narratives behind status and achievement.
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Reverse Anointment In College Admissions
- Toby Stuart recounts his daughter's college-admissions meeting where she was labeled a “five striker” due to demographic privileges.
- This story illustrates reverse anointment where perceived overprivilege hurt, not helped, her application.
Anointment Defined As Status Transfer
- Anointment is the transfer of social status from institutions to individuals, shaping how others interpret quality.
- Examples include Sequoia investing or YC admitting founders, which act as credibility transfers.
Selection Plus Treatment Multiplies Status
- Prestigious institutions both select people and then treat them, amplifying status beyond selection.
- That treatment creates compounding advantages that make the institution look like a perfect judge of merit.
