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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

I was 19 years old in my Harvard dorm room when I installed a satellite dish on the roof to get real-time data for trading convertible bonds.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

The entrepreneurs of any moment in time are the people who have the skill set relevant to solve the problems of that moment.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

In my twenties, I decided to take risks in my career because I had nothing to lose.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

When starting Citadel, I attracted bright undergraduates and graduate students by offering better pay than Wall Street and promises of responsibility.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

We had to do things differently to compete against incumbents like JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

You need to think outside the box when building a startup and find ways to solve problems that competitors are not addressing.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

The essence of Citadel's culture is the extraordinary rate of learning among our team.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Generative AI is just another step in the journey of using machine learning technologies in finance.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

While generative AI is a productivity enhancement tool, it is not going to revolutionize most of what we do in finance.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Self-driving cars perform well in clear conditions but struggle in snow, which alters the road's contours and complicates navigation for the vehicles.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Machine learning models excel at static problems, like analyzing radiological reports, but they falter when predicting future events, which is crucial for investing.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Investing requires understanding how the future will unfold, and machine learning models are not designed for long-term predictions, often failing beyond short-term trading.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Call centers will become obsolete in the next five to ten years as generative AI improves, leading businesses to shift communication to email and messaging platforms.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

As society adapts to machine learning and generative AI, we must consider the societal costs and how to support those whose jobs are affected by these technologies.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Generative AI is revolutionizing marketing by allowing personalized ads, such as targeting pet insurance to new dog owners based on their social media activity.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

The most compelling generative AI applications will emerge from innovative uses of technology that differ from traditional software applications, creating new business opportunities.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Citadel operates as a team sport, where strong partnerships foster resilience during challenging times, allowing for better decision-making in investing.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Being a successful investor involves overcoming emotional biases and making rational decisions, often aided by colleagues who provide critical perspectives.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Great investors possess clarity about their competitive advantages, conduct thorough research, and are willing to commit capital with conviction while also knowing when to cut losses.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Mentorship is crucial; building relationships with those who can teach you is essential for growth, and one should seek environments where they can learn from others.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Citadel has played a significant role in democratizing finance, reducing trading costs globally, and contributing to both regulatory and market improvements.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

I aspire to be remembered for my contributions to making America a better place, including initiatives like Operation Warp Speed, which saved countless lives during the pandemic.

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Ken Griffin

05/01/25

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Legendary investors recognize their advantages and act decisively, while also being able to move on from mistakes without emotional attachment, viewing losses as learning experiences.

View From The Top with Ken Griffin, Founder and CEO of Citadel

Takeaways