David Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group

American business leader, bestselling author, and patriotic philanthropist David Rubenstein proves that if you can live your legacy, the greater your impact. In this special episode of the Walker Webcast, David and Willy share the screen to discuss how private is the private equity world, living a legacy and why he thinks he won't ever pick up golf! Willy opens the conversation by introducing David with the remarks of Harvard University's Former President Drew Faust: "David Rubenstein's acumen in finance, his experience both in leading a complex organization and then serving as an institutional trustee, his capacious intellect and global outlook, his devotion to universities and to the arts and culture, and his capacity to inspire generosity in others, all promise to serve the corporation and the university well. He has served on a remarkable range of nonprofit boards, reflecting his equally remarkable span of interests — in higher education, the arts, public policy, medicine, international affairs and American history and culture." This sums up David's remarkable undertakings and contributions. Harvard Corporation is the oldest corporation in the Western Hemisphere, chartered in 1650, of which David is a member despite not having gone to Harvard. Willy mentions how David has also been very supportive of his alma mater, Duke University, and contributing with a rare book library, the art center, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute, the School of Public Policy, The Freeman Center for Jewish Life and more. David shares that his parents didn't have a high school and university education. He is grateful to have received scholarships to go to Duke and University Law School. He feels very indebted to them and repays what he can after achieving his massive success. Willy poses how David finds the time and energy to be able to put energy in so many endeavors and as co-founder and co-chairman of the private equity firm The Carlyle Group. "I find organizations that I think are doing good jobs that I feel indebted to, and I want to stay involved with them if I feel they're doing a good thing for our country. Secondly, I don't play golf, which saves many hours and a lot of frustration. And then generally, I love doing this, so it's not work for me." Willy explores common themes that David outlined in his book How To Lead. David shares that luck was a significant factor in finding his two co-founders of the Carlyle Group, William Conway Jr. and Daniel D'Aniello. The desire to succeed also led to starting small as an investment firm in the buyout area in Washington, and riding through a massive failure during the Great Recession made the company what it is now. His philanthropy work makes up a considerable portion of David's life. He is an original signer of The Giving Pledge and continues to persuade people to give money for worthy causes and give away a huge chunk of his own net worth. As a celebrated interviewer hosting The David Rubenstein Show and Bloomberg Wealth with David Rubenstein, David was able to see the wisdom behind the successes of many accomplished entrepreneurs and game-changers and what cohort he discovered to seem to be the happiest or most content with their lives.
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