A Conversation with Henry R. Kravis, Co-Founder & Co-Executive Chairman, KKR

Columbia Business School

Henry Kravis

Video

Henry Kravis reflects on KKR’s origins, culture, and lessons from 50 years of building an investment firm from scratch. The conversation centers on risk taking, humility, preparation, AI, and why entrepreneurship often comes down to committing before the path looks obvious.

Key Takeaways

Bootstrap Beginnings: KKR began with $120,000 and no institutional backing, forcing the founders to raise capital from 8 individuals and develop the 20% carry model.
Culture Compounds: Over 50 years, KKR’s emphasis on shared economics, teamwork, and “we” over “my” helped move the firm beyond its original 3 founders.
Preparation Matters: Kravis says deep research helped him build credibility with Roy Disney, reinforcing a lesson shaped across nearly 50 years of investing and leadership.
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