Ken Langone, the founder of Home Depot and a successful investor, is celebrated for his exceptional leadership. Langone helped build Home Depot over 40 years ago and is now the largest shareholder in companies like Eli Lily. He became a shareholder in Eli Lily in 1977 when they bought his small medical device company, IVAC Corporation.
He describes how he evaluates potential leaders and talks about the culture at Home Depot, where he prioritizes the well-being of store managers and associates, believing they are the most important people in the company. Langone’s upbringing as a child of working-class parents shaped his ability to judge people’s talent and potential.
Langone shares his philanthropic efforts, specifically his donation to NYU Langone Medical School (to make it tuition-free) as well as the Harlem Children’s Zone, an initiative that aimed to help children from troubled backgrounds succeed in school and go on to college. He uses his deep gratitude for the country and his desire to give back as fuel to keep working.
