Ex Goldman Sachs CEO got into Harvard University at 16 from public housing—and says higher education is the best way to break into the middle class

Lloyd Blankfein, the former CEO of Goldman Sachs, asserts that higher education is the key to breaking into the middle class, despite the questioning of its worth from some business leaders. Born in public housing in Brooklyn, Blankfein shared a bedroom with his grandmother or sister until he attended college. He excelled academically, becoming valedictorian of his high school and eventually gaining admission to Harvard University at the age of 16.

Blankfein credits his college education at Harvard and Harvard Law School for fostering his confidence, writing skills, and engagement with current events, describing it as "the best place to have gone." He strongly disagrees with tech entrepreneur Peter Thiel's stance on skipping college, advising the younger generation to pursue higher education to build essential skills and become "complete persons" for successful careers.

Other CEOs, such as Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi, also highlight the importance of a well-rounded education, including liberal arts, to equip individuals with diverse skillsets and effective communication abilities, which are crucial in leadership positions. Meanwhile, some industry leaders like Anthropic cofounder Daniela Amodei argue that studying humanities will become even more critical in the era of AI, as critical thinking and interpersonal skills will be indispensable for innovation in the workforce.