Youtube video link: www.youtu.be/9T9Kp4NE5l4

James “Jamie” Dimon (MBA 1982), chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co., who has been listed by the Financial Times as one of the leaders most likely to lead the world out of the financial crisis, offered wide-ranging words of wisdom and advice to members of the Harvard Business School MBA Class of 2009 at Class Day exercises on the HBS campus. Also attending were family members, friends, and other guests of the almost 900 graduating students.

Focusing first on career management, Dimon reminded the class of the importance of lifelong learning and building a reputation-a personal brand-for hard work, integrity, and trust, among other qualities. In a sense, he said, a book is put together about each of us as we go through life, and “you can choose the way you want the book to be written.”

As leaders face the challenges and opportunities of life, he continued, emotional intelligence is as important as brain power. “IQ alone won’t get you through tough times.” A dose of toughness was also part of the prescription Dimon proposed. People in positions of responsibility are bound to take some heat along life’s way, he noted, quoting Theodore Roosevelt’s observation that players are the ones who are criticized, not the spectators in the stands. He also underscored the importance of maintaining work-life balance. When it comes to family, he said, there is no such thing as quality time without an equal amount of quantity. Continue reading →