#384 Ken Griffin: Founder of Citadel and Citadel Securities
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Apr 1, 2025
Ken Griffin shares his insights on the competitive drive that shaped Citadel and Citadel Securities. He emphasizes the importance of resilience and continuous learning, especially after financial setbacks. The discussion highlights his strategic mindset and the role of mentorship in achieving success. Fun anecdotes enrich his narrative, from his Yale talk to lessons derived from the book 'Hardball.' Notably, innovative risk management practices illustrate how visual data can transform decision-making in business.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Seek Risk Early
Be risk-seeking early in your career, pursuing opportunities with maximum personal interest.
Take risks while you're young, as it becomes harder later.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Find Good Mentors
Find mentors who are genuinely invested in your career.
Mentorship and apprenticeship are crucial for career success.
insights INSIGHT
Right Toolkit, Right Time
Great entrepreneurs possess the right skills to solve problems at a specific time.
Capitalize on your unique skill set applied to timely opportunities.
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Because of the podcast I get to meet a lot of super successful people. I'm always asking them "Who is the smartest person you know" and "Who do you think has the best business?". "Ken Griffin" is a very common answer. I've heard Ken described in two ways: "Winner" and "Killer". For years I've come across interesting anecdotes about Ken. Like when he appears as a 19 year old kid in Ed Thorp's excellent autobiography A Man For All Markets. Or when John Arnold describe Ken's intense competitive drive following the blowup of Enron. And then consider the fact that I'm obsessed with people who run their business for decades (Ken founded Citadel 35 years ago and Citadel Securities 23 years ago) — and I knew I had to make an episode about his life and work. The only problem was there's no great biography of Ken. So to make this episode I transcribed this talk that Ken gave at Yale. And for additional context I read the book Ken recommends: Hardball: Are You Playing to Play or Playing to Win.
Founders Notes gives you the ability to tap into the collective knowledge of history's greatest entrepreneurs on demand. Use it to supplement the decisions you make in your work. Get access to Founders Notes here.
Founders Notes gives you the ability to tap into the collective knowledge of history's greatest entrepreneurs on demand. Use it to supplement the decisions you make in your work. Get access to Founders Notes here.
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