Former Goldman Sachs CEO Touts College as 'Real Accelerator' to Middle Class

Lloyd Blankfein, who grew up in Brooklyn public housing, credits his Harvard education for his success in finance.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Lloyd Blankfein, the former CEO of Goldman Sachs, is pushing back against tech leaders who have questioned the value of a college education. Blankfein, who was born in public housing in Brooklyn and got into Harvard at 16, says education is the 'real accelerator' for most people to reach the middle and upper classes. He argues that college helps develop essential skills beyond just technical expertise, making workers more 'complete' and interesting people.

Why it matters

Blankfein's perspective provides a counterpoint to the growing anti-college rhetoric from some high-profile tech figures like Peter Thiel. As AI threatens to automate more white-collar jobs, the debate over the value of a traditional four-year degree has intensified. Blankfein's personal story and professional success lend credibility to his argument that college remains a vital pathway to economic mobility.

The details

Blankfein was born in public housing in Brooklyn and shared a bedroom with his grandmother or sister until going to college. Despite his high school being on the verge of shutting down, he became valedictorian and got into Harvard at 16. He credits his elite college education with developing his confidence, writing skills, love of history, and engagement with current events - skills he says are essential for career success beyond just technical expertise.

  • Blankfein was born in public housing in Brooklyn.
  • Blankfein became valedictorian of his high school and got into Harvard at 16 years old.
  • Blankfein had a 12-year reign as CEO of Goldman Sachs.
  • Blankfein shared an excerpt from his upcoming memoir, 'Streetwise', with Vanity Fair last month.

The players

Lloyd Blankfein

The former CEO of financial giant Goldman Sachs, who was born into public housing in Brooklyn and got into Harvard at 16 years old.

Peter Thiel

A tech investor and co-founder of Palantir and PayPal, who has been outspoken in criticizing the 'corrupt institution' of higher education.

Dara Khosrowshahi

The CEO of Uber, who credits his diverse education at Brown University with preparing him for leadership.

Ali Ghodsi

The CEO of Databricks, who believes education will be 'completely revolutionized' for the better thanks to tech innovations.

Daniela Amodei

The co-founder of Anthropic, who argues that studying the humanities will be more important than ever in a tech-driven work landscape.

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What they’re saying

“I think education is the real accelerator for most people into the middle and upper classes.”

— Lloyd Blankfein, Former CEO, Goldman Sachs (CBS)

“I strongly disagree with the technology investor Peter Thiel. To succeed in a career, you have to know the technical minutiae of your field, of course. But you also need to be a complete person—the kind of person other people want to engage with.”

— Lloyd Blankfein, Former CEO, Goldman Sachs (Vanity Fair)

“Your undergraduate years are your best opportunity to make yourself uncomfortable in a way that can help make you more curious and interesting.”

— Lloyd Blankfein, Former CEO, Goldman Sachs (Vanity Fair)

“One of my secrets is—really, I do give Brown credit for this—this balanced education that I kind of stumbled on. Learning all of the…really important basics of engineering, but then marrying that with liberal arts, that really taught me to communicate in a compelling way, which is an absolute necessity when you're in a leadership position.”

— Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO, Uber (Brown University)

“I actually think studying the humanities is going to be more important than ever. The ability to have critical thinking skills and learn how to interact with other people will be more important in the future, rather than less.”

— Daniela Amodei, Co-founder, Anthropic (ABC News)

What’s next

Blankfein's memoir 'Streetwise' is set to be released later this year, which may provide further insights into his views on the value of a college education.

The takeaway

Blankfein's personal story and professional success as a former Goldman Sachs CEO lend credibility to his argument that a college education remains a vital pathway to economic mobility and personal growth, even as some tech leaders question its worth. His perspective offers a counterpoint to the growing anti-college rhetoric and highlights the continued importance of a well-rounded education in developing essential skills for career success.