Pfeffer on Power

Navigating Success Through the Power of Strategy and Persistence with Jed Simon

Jul 31, 2024
Jed Simon, an accomplished CEO with experience in FinTech and Media, shares intriguing insights from his diverse career. He discusses his journey through prestigious firms like Morgan Stanley and DreamWorks, highlighting a humorous encounter with media mogul David Geffen. Jed reveals his strategies in navigating power dynamics, including tips on networking and forming relationships, even using his nightclub experiences as lessons in adaptability. His application of Stanford's Paths to Power course showcases the importance of first impressions and strategic persistence.
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ANECDOTE

Career Arc From Banking To Founder To MSx

  • Jed describes moving from Morgan Stanley to DreamWorks, corporate roles, international work and founding a fintech startup.
  • He sold the fintech company, felt burned out, and then enrolled in Stanford's MSx program to regroup.
INSIGHT

Rules Of Power Reflect How The World Works

  • Jed views Jeffrey Pfeffer's rules of power as descriptive laws, not optional norms.
  • He admires David Geffen's decisiveness and acknowledges power often comes with difficult behavior.
ANECDOTE

Keeping The Cartier Watch

  • Jed refused to surrender a Cartier watch given after a deal and wrote to Morgan Stanley's CEO requesting permission to keep it.
  • Dick Fisher approved, so Jed kept the watch as a memento in a safe deposit box.
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