Warren Buffett has made it clear in his annual shareholder letters and public statements that he by no means considers the place a candidate has gone to high school when deciding on CEOs for Berkshire Hathaway firms. Buffett believes uncooked enterprise expertise and character outweigh tutorial pedigree, no matter whether or not somebody attended a prestigious establishment or selected an unconventional instructional path.
Buffett cites profitable leaders just like the late Pete Liegl, former CEO of Forest River, who managed vital development with out Ivy League credentials, in addition to Invoice Gates (who dropped out of Harvard) and Ben Rosner (whose formal schooling led to sixth grade) as prime examples of how innate means and operational excellence matter way over credentials.
Buffett himself attended the College of Nebraska–Lincoln, Wharton, and Columbia, however insists a considerable amount of enterprise expertise is intuitive and nature overpowers nurture. He acknowledges that distinctive managers do generally come from elite faculties, however argues proscribing hiring to high-status instructional backgrounds dangers overlooking true “pure” expertise.
Buffett is broadly considered one of many best traders of all time, having amassed a fortune via his disciplined worth investing strategy and long-term focus. From humble beginnings, he grew his wealth by managing funding partnerships and famously buying the textile firm Berkshire Hathaway within the Nineteen Sixties, remodeling it into a various holding conglomerate. As of mid-2025, Buffett’s internet value is estimated to have reached the $144 billion to $160 billion vary, making him one of many world’s richest people. His success is attributed to figuring out undervalued companies that provide compounding returns for many years, and demonstrating integrity and transparency all through his profession. Buffett can be notable for his philanthropy, having pledged to donate the overwhelming majority of his wealth, and influencing generations of traders via his writings and annual shareholder conferences.
Wanting past credentials
Fortune’s current protection of hiring attitudes amongst outstanding enterprise leaders signifies broader settlement with Buffett’s perspective.
Tech leaders like former Google exec Jad Tarifi warn that superior levels—as soon as thought-about important for profession development—could also be dropping worth owing to fast modifications in know-how and AI specifically. Tarifi contends that success in tomorrow’s workforce will come from “distinctive views, company, emotional consciousness, and robust human bonds,” not credentials alone.
Mark Zuckerberg, who notably dropped out of Harvard throughout his sophomore yr after efficiently launching Fb together with his roommates, has additionally overtly questioned whether or not school prepares younger individuals for right this moment’s jobs, noting that many impactful contributors in tech have nontraditional backgrounds. The general sentiment amongst these leaders is that innovation and operational excellence stem from various experiences and steady studying, somewhat than the precise faculty listed on a résumé.
In right this moment’s fast-changing enterprise surroundings, high firms are more and more looking for candidates who exhibit adaptability, creativity, and contemporary views, no matter their instructional trajectory. This development underscores Buffett’s long-held philosophy: that character, functionality, and a confirmed monitor file are the true drivers of tolerating company success.
For this story, Fortune used generative AI to assist with an preliminary draft. An editor verified the accuracy of the data earlier than publishing.
