What It Takes

Stephen A. Schwarzman, chairman, CEO and co-founder of the investment firm Blackstone, is also a significant philanthropist active in education and the arts. As a man with little – that is, nothing – to prove, Schwarzman adopts a charming, unpretentious, breezy tone in his autobiography. He describes his meteoric rise in Wall Street finance, attributing his success to his inexhaustible work ethic, analytical ability and willingness to make rapid, tough decisions.

Schwarzman co-founded the Blackstone Group, Inc., which initially embraced mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and real estate, and grew to become one of history’s most successful international investment companies. While noting his career highlights, Schwarzman offers readers principles of success and leadership and describes his profound commitment to philanthropy.