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#495: David Rubenstein, Co-Founder of The Carlyle Group, on Lessons Learned, Jeff Bezos, Raising Billions of Dollars, Advising Presidents, and Sprinting to the End

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Jan 27, 2021

Guest

David Rubenstein

David Rubenstein, co-founder of The Carlyle Group and a significant philanthropist, shares his journey from politics to entrepreneurship. He discusses early influences like Ted Sorensen, and the transformative role of effective communication in success. Rubenstein delves into the founding challenges of Carlyle, providing insights on fundraising and leadership lessons from figures like Jeff Bezos. He also reflects on the impact of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and emphasizes the importance of literacy and thoughtful philanthropy in society.

01:46:25

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ANECDOTE

Early Political Interest

David Rubenstein's sixth-grade teacher instilled in him a love for John F. Kennedy's inaugural address.
This sparked his early interest in politics, which he saw as the highest calling.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Choosing a Law Firm

Rubenstein chose his law firm based on its political connections, hoping to work with Ted Sorensen.
Sorensen, Kennedy's speechwriter, was Rubenstein's inspiration for pursuing a legal-political career path.

insights

INSIGHT

Young Speechwriters

Many of the best political speechwriters are young due to demanding work hours and modest pay.
This often leads to burnout after a few years, as seen with Ted Sorensen after Kennedy's assassination.

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From Aspirations to the White House

04:59 • 15min

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Crafting Communication: Skills for Success

19:40 • 7min

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Navigating Career Changes: From Politics to Entrepreneurship

26:53 • 6min

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The Evolution of Buyout Firms

32:35 • 22min

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Founding Challenges and Fundraising Insights

54:33 • 11min

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Legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

01:05:22 • 5min

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The Allure of Political Power

01:10:37 • 6min

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Reflections on Reading and Literacy

01:16:40 • 23min

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Future Interactions and Product Highlights

01:39:45 • 7min

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How to Lead

David Rubenstein

In 'How to Lead', David M. Rubenstein distills wisdom from his interviews with 31 influential leaders across tech, finance, entertainment, sports, and government. The book categorizes leaders into six types—Visionaries, Builders, Transformers, Commanders, Decision-makers, and Masters—and explores their strategies for success, innovation, and crisis management. Through these conversations, Rubenstein highlights key leadership traits such as focus, humility, and the ability to learn from failures.

The American Story

David Rubenstein

The American Story: Conversations with Master Historians offers a sweeping journey through American history via lively dialogues with esteemed historians. The book features discussions with notable figures like David McCullough, Jon Meacham, and Doris Kearns Goodwin, providing fresh insights into historical figures and events. It is richly illustrated with archival images from the Library of Congress and includes a foreword by Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden.

The Power Broker

Robert Moses and the Fall of New York

Robert Caro

This book is a monumental biography of Robert Moses, who was the single most powerful man in New York City and State during his time. It explores how Moses accumulated and wielded power, shaping the city through his public works projects, including highways, bridges, and parks. The book delves into Moses's early life, his idealistic beginnings, and his transformation into a powerful figure who dominated New York's politics without ever being elected. It also highlights the social and environmental impacts of his projects and his eventual fall from power. The biography is renowned for its detailed and nuanced portrayal of power dynamics in urban politics[2][4][5].

David Rubenstein, Co-Founder of The Carlyle Group, on Lessons Learned, Jeff Bezos, Raising Billions of Dollars, Advising Presidents, and Sprinting to the End | Brought to you by ShipStation shipping software, Headspace easy-to-use app with guided meditations, and Theragun percussive muscle therapy devices. More on all three below.

David M. Rubenstein (davidrubenstein.com) is co-founder and co-executive chairman of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm with $230 billion under management.

David is chairman of the boards of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Council on Foreign Relations, a fellow of the Harvard Corporation, and a regent of the Smithsonian Institution.

David, an original signer of the Giving Pledge, has made transformative gifts for the restoration or repair of the Washington Monument, Kennedy Center, Smithsonian, National Archives, National Zoo, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

David is host of The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer Conversations on Bloomberg TV and the author of The American Story: Conversations with Master Historians and How to Lead: Wisdom from the World’s Greatest CEOs, Founders, and Game Changers.

David is a graduate of Duke University and the University of Chicago Law School.

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