Bill Ackman, Harvard, and What Happens Next?

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Jan 9, 2024

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Bill Ackman

Guest

Harvard

Bill Ackman and Harvard's 10-7 controversy, the future of education, disrupting elite schools, the value of credentials, wealth in universities, enacting meaningful change, and the potential disruption of Harvard.

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ANECDOTE

Ackman vs. Universities

Bill Ackman, a hedge fund manager, previously shorted Herbalife, exposing it as a pyramid scheme.
Now he's targeting universities like Harvard and MIT for their DEI focus and response to anti-Semitism.

INSIGHT

Challenging the Cathedral

This is the first time someone outside the left is effectively challenging elite universities and winning.
Harvard's recent firing of Claudine Gay demonstrates their susceptibility to external pressure.

INSIGHT

Twitter's Influence

Twitter remains a key battleground for intellectual discourse, influencing real-world outcomes.
The pressure campaign against Harvard unfolded largely on Twitter, proving its power.

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Dan Romero and Erik Torenberg talk about what's happening between Bill Ackman and Harvard: they touch on the 10-7 movement and the focus on DEI in universities, the future of education and the challenges of disrupting elite schools, the value of credentials, and more. Moment of Zen is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial period.

RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist

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Check out Erik's new show Request for Startups featuring a rotating cast of founders and investors (including Dan) sharing their requests for startups they want to exist in the world, and also their stories of navigating the idea maze in different sectors so founders don’t have to reinvent the wheel anymore. The first episode is out now - we over better dating apps, references as a service, and WeWork for productivity

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Introduction to Bill Ackman

(05:50) Bill Ackman vs. Harvard and MIT

(17:30) On how 10/7 relates to DEI

(26:08) The power of Twitter and social media

(33:46) Curtis vs Chris Rufo

(40:36) The future of education and disrupting universities

(44:52) Disrupting Harvard and Stanford

(51:50) The value of credentials

(56:41) Why higher education is so corrupt

(01:02:25) Wrap

This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.