I never look at where a candidate has gone to school. Never! says Warren Buffet

arren Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, has a simple hiring philosophy: academic credentials do not matter.

In his 2025 annual letter to shareholders, he made it clear—he never considers where a CEO candidate studied.

Of course, there are brilliant managers who attended top universities.

But Buffett firmly believes that business talent is more about natural ability than formal education. Some of the most successful people in history, including his close friend Bill Gates, never completed college. Instead, they focused on learning, adapting, and seizing opportunities.

In other words, success isn’t about where you went to school—it’s about what you do with what you have.

Success Isn’t Defined by a Degree

In his letter, Buffett shared a story about Ben Rosner, a brilliant businessman who once worked for him and his late partner, Charlie Munger. Rosner was a retailing genius, yet he never went past sixth grade.

Similarly, Buffett pointed to Bill Gates, who dropped out of Harvard to build Microsoft, recognizing that he could create more value by launching his company than by staying in school.

Gates, of course, went on to change the world with personal computing.

Buffett himself attended three prestigious universities, and he strongly believes in lifelong learning. However, he has observed that natural ability often outweighs formal education when it comes to business success.

Nature vs. Nurture in Business Talent

Buffett has always believed that certain business skills are innate—you’re either born with them, or you’re not. No amount of schooling can teach someone the instinct to recognize great opportunities, manage people well, or make sound financial decisions under pressure.

That’s why when Buffett looks for CEOs to run Berkshire Hathaway’s many subsidiaries, he doesn’t care about Ivy League degrees. Instead, he values:

✅ Good judgment – The ability to make smart, long-term decisions.
✅ Integrity – Someone who does what’s right, even when no one is watching.
✅ Passion for learning – A person who keeps growing, regardless of formal education.

A diploma might look impressive on a résumé, but real-world experience, talent, and character matter far more in Buffett’s eyes.

What young people can learn fron this

Buffett’s perspective offers an important lesson for young people today:

📌 A degree is not a guarantee of success – It’s a tool, not a ticket. What you do with your knowledge is what really matters.
📌 Practical experience is invaluable – Some of the greatest business lessons come from real-world challenges, not textbooks.
📌 Never stop learning – Whether or not you go to college, continuous self-education is the key to long-term success.

Buffett himself is an avid reader and credits much of his success to his love for learning. But he also recognizes that many of the greatest entrepreneurs, executives, and business minds didn’t follow traditional educational paths.

At the end of the day, it’s not about where you study, but how you think, learn, and adapt.

So, if you’re worried about not having the “perfect” academic background, take Buffett’s advice: Focus on developing real skills, making smart decisions, and continuously improving.

That’s what truly leads to success—not a piece of parchment on the wall. 🚀