Mr. Warren Buffett gets personal

Berkshire Hathaway CEO shares sincere advice with students

In November, 20 students from Questrom’s Graduate Finance and Investment Club participated in the 2016 Berkshire Hathaway Trek. The trek, which runs every other year, is the club’s most attractive trip, and includes the chance to talk face-to-face with Mr. Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and known by some as the “Oracle of Omaha.” Buffett has appeared on many Forbes lists including: #3 in Forbes 400 (2016), #2 in Forbes 400 (2015), The Richest Person in Every State (for Nebraska), #3 Billionaires (2016) and #2 in United States, #13 Powerful People (2015).

The trek consisted of a Q&A session with Buffett, in the Berkshire Hathaway building located in Omaha, Nebraska, and concluded with lunch and tours at Berkshire Hathaway subsidiaries.

To student’s surprise, the trip wasn’t all business. Buffett took a personal approach and made his talk emulate a conversation. “He didn’t just share financial information—he shared personal lessons,” says Matt Priore, MBA candidate and member of the club, “He’s a pretty relatable guy,” Priore says, “he related to you as a student and as a person.”

Askar Kazimov, MBA candidate and member of the club, says the experience was incredibly valuable, “He gave us two and half hours of his time talking to the whole room.” During the Q&A session, Buffett was light-hearted in spirit as he shared his guidance and advice. He stressed to the students the importance of developing habits now that will work well in the future and explained the value in surrounding yourself with the right people.

Students asked Buffett what he looked for in his employees and he stressed that he would pass over the most knowledgeable candidate for one with unmatchable passion and drive. He also explained that the most important quality for someone to have in the business world is temperament.

The Graduate Finance and Investment Club, led by its two co-presidents Kenneth Hall and David Saxon, meets each week and is dedicated to bringing an educational focus to its meetings. Club leaders frequently invite speakers to give talks on campus, sharing their experience, advice, and expertise. Some of the clubs highlights from only this semester include: a private equity workshop, a NYC trek, and several talks on topics like portfolio management, investment banking, venture capital, and financial modeling.

Kenneth Hall, 2^nd year MBA student and co-president of the club says that it has two goals. He says that the first is, “to help students figure out what they want to do, faster.” The second is to help people find their spot in finance. He says, “We try to get people who are not into finance to find something in finance that they like.” The idea is that through participating in the club, students will see how finance intersects with other areas that they may be involved with or interested in.

David Saxon, also co-president of the club, explains that another goal of theirs is “to create a place to get the technical skills that any role in finance would need.” He says that in addition to that, members build upon their personal network by developing relationships with club members.

“From a member’s perspective, the goal has really been achieved,” says Priore. “It’s been very helpful to me as a finance focus.”

The Graduate Finance and Investment Club’s meetings and talks are open to everyone. No matter your major or background. If you’re someone interested in attending, contact one of the members mentioned in this article through the Graduate Finance and Investment Club’s website, Facebook group, or via email.

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Berkshire Hathaway CEO shares sincere advice with students

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