Catha For Council Blog

If you have never come across the story of Steve Schwarzman, take a few moments out of your schedule and be inspired by this. Only last year Stephen A. Schwarzman made number 53 on Forbes’ list of America’s most wealthy individuals, all the same it’s his extraordinary achievements in the business and finance world and also his generosity to society which set his story apart from the crowd. His life illustrates that the most significant character traits in business success are work and, of course, focused perseverance.

In the eighties Steve launched the Blackstone Group with Peter Peterson; in its early days it was a private-equity and financial advisory firm. Now, the Blackstone Group is a household name enompassing holdings as diverse as Madame Tussauds and Catalent Pharma Solutions, to name only two. Living for many of his adolescent years in near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Steve commenced his early education in the Abingdon school district. He graduated from Abington Senior High School; afterwards he got his degree from Yale University in 1969. He decided to further his training at the respected Harvard Business School, graduating in 1972. Then he commenced his career at Lehman Brothers investment bank, located in New York City. He was given the title of managing director at the age of only 31. Not only does Steve give of his time and money to a broad range of not-for-profit organizations, but he has also been a non-faculty professor at Yale. Furthermore, he is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the JFK Center for the Performing Arts in NYC. In addition, Steve just last March gave the New York Public Library $100 million to assist in their recent building plans. He also serves on their board of trustees.

It is not a surprise that Stephen A. Schwarzman has become part of the United States’ elite - he was listed amongst Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World in acknowledgement of his achievements and influence on the business world and in the financial industry. His meteoric rise in the financial world is nothing short of astounding, and coupled with his readiness to donate to the community through his liberal contributions to the arts and education motivates people who would like to emulate him.

So the financial community waits with interest breath to see what Steve will do next. In summary, Steve has made an astronomical difference to both the business and financial communities and to the world generally.