- Warren Buffett was born in 1930 in Omaha and showed early entrepreneurial spirit as a child with various business ventures. He graduated with a BBA from Nebraska and moved to New York to work with Ben Graham. - He started Buffett Partnership in 1956 which was extremely successful, closing after 13 years to focus on family. He acquired Berkshire Hathaway in 1970 which is now the 4th most valuable company in the US. - Now at 84, Buffett is still very active in his work and lifelong learning. He focuses on discipline and simplicity, delegating extensively while remaining a voracious learner and reader.

1. Warren Buffett
Albert Costa

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Quick Bio
• Born in 1930 in Omaha
• Son of republican congressman who owned a brokerage business
• Very entrepreneurial youth, newspaper delivery “business” or selling pinball machines
• Made his first investment at age 11 (bought three shares for himself and three for his sister
• Went to Wharton for two years but transferred to Nebraska to finish BBA degree
• Post graduation, after a few years in Omaha, he moved to New York just to work with Ben Graham
• Started Buffet Partnership in 1956. After 13 very extremely successful years he closed the fun to focus on
family and other interests
• Acquired Berkshire in 1970 which is currently ranked #4th most valuable company in the US

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Warren at Work: A Happy Workaholic
• “Tap dances” to work at 84 years old
– His partner, Charlie Munger is 90 years old
• Focus & authenticity
• Life-long learning journey
• Disciplined investing process
• Simplicity:
– Does not use email
– Delegates
– Holding company has 24 employees
• Met lifelong friends at work
– Charlie Munger, Bill Gates, Katherine Graham

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Warren’s Self
• Developed self-awareness & empathy
– Dale Carnegie course
– Habit of writing down key decisions and motivations
• Built his qualities
– Developed list of habits and proactively pursued them
– Avid learner: reads five newspapers every day
• Self-control & confidence
– By only doing what he knows he understands
• Frugal
– Leads a simple life comparable to any of us
– Lives in the house he bought in 1952 for $30,000
– His car is old, believe me!
• Personal hobbies
– Bridge
– Ukelele

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Contribution to the Community
• Spreading knowledge
– Teaching night class at the Nebraska university
– Currently welcomes thousands of university students to Omaha
– Shares his views of the world in annual letters to shareholders
• Spreading wealth
– Donated 99% of his wealth to the Gates Foundation
– Launched Giving Pledge campaign to encourage wealthiest people in the
world to donate most of their wealth to philanthropic causes.
• Spreading Opportunity
– Very active in the 60s and 70s in anti segregation movements in Omaha:
Resigned from Rotary club, sponsored Jews in Omaha country club,
supported Luther king
– Strong supporter of higher number of women in top leadership roles.
Required a 50% / 50% men / women ratio on our visit to Omaha

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Warren’s Family & at home
• Acted Independently based on clear sets of values
– Sons went to public schools
– Encouraged sons to pursue their passions
• Howard is a farmer; successor to Warren Buffest as non
executive chairman of Berkshire Hathaway
• Peter is a renowned musician
• Susan has focused on charitable work
• Life integration abilities initially weak….
– Worked at home for six years
– Spent many nights and week-ends reading investment reports
• Did not bring her wife on-board: she stayed up late at night
listening to music
• ….but has “improved” over time
– Stopped Goldman Sachs investment negotiations in 2008 to have
ice cream with his grand kids

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Lessons
• Passion: A workaholic can be authentic and happy
• Sets boundaries: physical, temporal and cognitive
– Does not use email
– Delegates significantly. Does not micro-manage
– Knows what to prioritize
• Continuous learning
– Outside world
– Self-awareness and empathy
• Committed to society, economically and politically
• Frugal