My First Million I asked Cathie Wood the question no one else will
196 snips
Oct 30, 2025 
Cathie Wood, Founder and CEO of ARK Invest, shares her journey from humble beginnings at McDonald's to managing billions in tech investments. She dives into ARK's strategic bets on AI and discusses the 'most misunderstood stock' in the market. Cathie details the unique research techniques that set ARK apart and reflects on the firm's performance, particularly during market volatility. She argues for the importance of innovation and highlights Tesla's pivotal role in autonomous mobility, suggesting it will transform transportation far beyond ride-hailing.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Humble Start Before Wall Street
- Cathie Wood started working at McDonald's as a cashier at 16 and also worked in a supermarket.
- She used early jobs and university connections to break into investing and Capital Group.
Mornings Sacred For Research
- Cathie Wood devotes her mornings to research and runs structured team meetings focused on thematic innovation.
- She splits teams into autonomous tech, AI & cloud, multiomics, and blockchain to prioritize deep domain coverage.
Bring External Critics In Weekly
- Invite external experts to regularly challenge your research and assumptions to avoid groupthink.
- Use vocal venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and professors to push and refine your theses.