Stephen A. Schwarzman — the Life Story of the Blackstone Group’s Co-Founder
If you have not come across the story of Stephen A. Schwarzman, you must have been hiding beneath a rock for the last couple of years. Forbes named Stephen the fifty third most wealthy individual in the United States just last year, still it is his generosity to society and his unbelievable business achivements that show him to be such a magnetic character. All this illustrate that the keys to business attainment are devoted hard work plus unequivocal dedication. Stephen Schwarzman and his partner Peter Peterson established the private equity and financial advisory company Blackstone Group in 1985. Today, of course, the Blackstone Group is known worldwide engaged in ventures as variegated as e.g. Allied Waste and La Quinta. Spending many of his early years in near Philadelphia, PA, Stephen attended school in the Philadelphia suburbs. He graduated from Abington Senior High School, afterwards he obtained his bachelor’s degree from the Connecticut University, Yale in 1969. Harvard Business School was the obvious next step in his education, here he received his Master’s degree in Business Administration in 1972. Once he had concluded his education, Stephen started a career in investment banking at Lehman Brothers. By his 32nd birthday, he was already on the board of directors.
Stephen A. Schwarzman gave his time as an assistant professor at the venerable Yale School of Business Management in addition to supporting a number of charities, educational programs, and the arts. Further, he is the 5th Chairman to the Board of Trustees at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. On top of all that, Stephen recently donated to the New York Public Library $100,000,000 to support their expansion plans. Stephen is also one of the trustees of the library. Hence, it should not come as a surprise that, American society looks at Stephen A. Schwarzman for inspiration — he was identified amongst Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People on the planet in recognition of his many achievements. His quick rise to power in the business and financial sectors is certainly astounding, and no doubt his generosity has provided Americans with a way more challenging benchmark to emulate. It would seem that at the moment, Stephen A. Schwarzman has it all. Thus, in summary, Stephen has grasped every opportunity that came his way and he has at the same time employed his fortune and status as a means to improve the lives of his fellow Americans.
