A top executive states that elite degrees can only take you a certain distance—individuals with traits such as a robust work ethic, an entrepreneurial approach, and kindness are the ones who distinguish themselves over time.
In a , Blackstone President and COO Jon Gray advised new analysts against “kissing up to bosses” or “sharp-elbowing” their colleagues to get ahead.
“Most of you attended elite universities. You performed exceptionally well and were at the top of your classes. You’re inherently successful and hardworking,” Gray noted in a video shared on his account. “But when I look at those who’ve truly thrived at Blackstone, it’s not the ‘good enough’ group—instead, it’s people who say, ‘I’m going to make sure I get this completely correct.’”
Gray mentioned that those who advance the most at possess the ability to collaborate effectively with others and “innovate to improve the firm.”
“The error people make is thinking, ‘I’ll really suck up to the bosses and be aggressive with my peers and those lower down,’” Gray stated.
Instead, he encouraged analysts to “be kind to everyone you interact with—inside and outside the building”—describing kindness as “an incredible superpower.”
For success, Gray told employees they need to “work harder and care more—it’s that simple.” He also pushed them to think entrepreneurially and “treat people extremely well, just as you’d want to be treated.”
The importance of skills-based hiring
Gray’s remarks come as young Americans navigate a . Data from the released in September reveals the U.S. economy generated nearly one million fewer jobs in the past year than initially estimated.
The sluggish labor market has some Gen Z workers doubting if a college degree is worth the expense. Another by Indeed found over a third of recent graduates consider their degree a pointing to skyrocketing tuition and AI’s effect on businesses.
Gray’s comments also coincide with businesses prioritizing emotional intelligence (EQ), a skill now widely viewed as vital for executives. A 2024 showed a 31% rise since 2018 in C-suite leaders emphasizing soft skills on their profiles. The most frequent skills listed were delivering effective presentations, strategic thinking, communication, strategic vision, and conflict resolution.
Aneesh Raman, LinkedIn’s chief economic opportunity officer, previously “these interpersonal skills will become more and more central—not just to how someone becomes an executive, but to the work of executives: Mobilizing teams and building a human-centric company.”
The move toward skills-based hiring is expanding worldwide as more companies integrate AI into their operations, per Great Place to Work CEO Michael Bush.
“Over the past five years—and among companies on our [] list—the dominant focus has been on skills and skills development,” Bush told . “They don’t talk about degrees anymore. They talk about skills: What skills do you have, and what skills will be needed down the line?”
For this story, utilized generative AI to assist with an initial draft. An editor confirmed the information’s accuracy prior to publication.
A version of this story was posted on on September 12, 2025.
More on higher education:
- Malcolm Gladwell tells young people that if they want a STEM degree, they might end up at the bottom of their class and drop out
- A tech founder says his son rejected the against white boys—he’s one of many choosing to go to college in the South instead
- and other elite colleges, a new study reveals