a top black stone Executives say elite degrees can only get you so far — and in the long run, people with qualities like a strong work ethic, entrepreneurial mindset and kindness will stand out.
in a LinkedIn PostJon Gray, Blackstone’s president and chief operating officer, told new analysts they shouldn’t “suck up to their bosses” or “big elbow” their peers for promotions.
“Most of you went to elite colleges. You did extremely well and were at the top of your class. You are naturally successful and hard-working people,” Gray admitted in a video posted to him. LinkedIn account. “But when I look around at the people at Blackstone who are really successful, I see that they’re not the ‘good enough’ people, right? It’s the people who say, Hey, ‘I’m going to make sure I’m doing this absolutely right.'”
Gray said those who rose highestblack stoneAbility to work well with others and “make the company better through innovation.”
“The mistake people make is, ‘I’m going to be nice to the boss, and I’m going to give the people next to me and the people at the bottom a hard elbow,'” Gray said.
He urged analysts to “be kind to everyone you come in contact with inside and outside the building,” calling kindness “an amazing superpower.”
To succeed, Gray told employees they should “work harder and care more; it’s not complicated.” He also encouraged them to think like entrepreneurs and “treat people the way you want to be treated in a truly great way.”
The Importance of Skills-Based Recruitment
Gray’s comments come as young Americans are facing tough job market. data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Data released in September showed that the U.S. economy created nearly 1 million fewer jobs over the past year than previously expected.
The weak labor market has some Gen Z workers questioning whether a college degree is worth the cost. other opinion poll Indeed found that more than a third of recent graduates said their degree was “Waste of money” The reasons are soaring tuition fees and the impact of artificial intelligence on business.
Gray’s comments come as companies increasingly focus on emotional intelligence (EQ), a skill increasingly seen as a must-have for executives. 2024 LinkedIn Report The study found that the number of C-suite leaders emphasizing soft skills in their profiles has increased by 31% since 2018. The most common skills include delivering effective presentations, strategic thinking, communication, strategic vision, and conflict resolution.
Aneesh Raman, Chief Economic Opportunity Officer at LinkedIn, formerly Tell wealth “These people skills will become increasingly central, not just to how someone becomes an executive, but to the core of what an executive does: mobilizing teams and building people-centered companies.”
Michael Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work, said there is a global shift towards skills-based hiring as more companies incorporate artificial intelligence into their workflows.
“In the past five years, companies have paid close attention to our (Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For) checklist — around skills and skill development,” Bush told wealth. “They’re not even talking about degrees now. They’re talking about skills. What skills do you have and what skills do you need in the future?”
For this story,wealthUse generative artificial intelligence to help complete your first draft. Editors verified information for accuracy before publishing.
A version of this story was published on Fortune.com on September 12, 2025.
More on higher education:
- Malcolm Gladwell tells young people if they want STEM degrees “Don’t go to Harvard.” You might end up at the bottom of the class and drop out
- One tech founder says his son refused Ivy League schools are ‘boring, critical and biased’ Against white boys – he was one of many who went south to attend college
- Being wealthy doubles your likelihood of being admitted to an Ivy League school and other elite universities, new study finds
This story was originally published on wealth network