Stop Trying to Fit In | Former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein

At the start of his career, Lloyd Blankfein made a decision that would define the way he led — stop trying to fit in. In this episode of Executive Decisions, the former Goldman Sachs CEO reflects on growing up in public housing in Brooklyn, arriving at Harvard as an outsider and learning that authenticity was more powerful than performance. He explains how that mindset shaped his rise through one of the most competitive firms on Wall Street. From handling criticism and changing his management style to leading Goldman Sachs through crisis, Blankfein explains why the most effective leaders know who they are — and when they need to change. Subscribe to "Executive Decisions with Steve Sedgwick" wherever you get your podcasts. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Lloyd Blankfein's Early Realization: Embrace Authenticity 2:42 From Public Housing to Harvard: A Self-Made Path 7:23 Why Lloyd Blankfein Left Law for Commodity Trading 9:39 Navigating Goldman Sachs: From Outsider to Insider 13:02 Robert Maxwell and the Perils of Flattery 16:38 Goldman Sachs IPO: Culture, Capital and Legacy 20:53 Lloyd Blankfein's CEO Journey: Leadership, Authenticity and Impact 26:42 Leading Through Crisis: Blankfein's Legacy and Reflection #CNBC #CNBCPodcast #ExecutiveDecisions ----- Subscribe: @cnbci CNBC International Live: @cnbcinternationalive LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/cnbc-international/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cnbci Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cnbcinternational Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnbcinternational/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@cnbcinternational X: https://twitter.com/CNBCi Telegram: https://t.me/cnbci WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/CNBCiWhatsApp