Historians credit Julius Caesar with saying, “Experience is the best teacher.” Only the best students of experience, however, can become great leaders.
Brook Taube’s “Lessons in Leadership” begins with that simple observation. What his father’s experience taught him about listening and fairness came first.
Table of Contents
Lesson 1 – Listen
“I have always considered my father to be my biggest inspiration. As a judge, lawyer, and professor, he always tried his best to be fair in his decisions while remaining empathetic and humble,” recalls Brook, a father to three sons and a daughter himself. “He used to say that while it may not be possible to make everyone happy, we can listen to them and be fair.”
Whether adjudicating disputes between his kids or evaluating an investment opportunity, Brook has made sure to let his father’s wisdom be a guiding principle in all of his endeavors.
Lesson 2 – Educate Yourself
One-time U.S. presidential candidate Wendell Willkie once said, “Education is the mother of leadership.”
Brook Taube started his own journey at Harvard College. After graduating, he began his career at Bankers Trust. In the three decades since the start of his business career, he has founded and built multiple billion-dollar companies. He has also helped over 500 companies by providing capital to grow their enterprise and help thousands of employees across a variety of industries and countries. While doing all of this, Brook has also become well-known for his passion for mentoring new entrepreneurs.
Lesson 3 – Respect Relationships
Empathy–relating to the experience of another–is an important guide for good leaders. Brook has been critical of the lack of empathy many leaders have shown during the ongoing tech-sector layoffs, for example, as some have chosen to keep investors happy at the expense of their teams’ mental health and livelihoods.
Brook is no stranger to the challenges a company might face before making such a decision. Having gone through that same dilemma years ago with one of his own firms, Brook chose to take most of the financial consequences himself.
“It was difficult to be a small player within the increasingly challenging regulatory environment and high-cost structures in the financial industry,” Brook explained. “We had a forward-looking business with great people. I prioritized their well-being because, to me, that is what being a leader is all about–caring about your team.”
That decision, which some executives and business owners might not have made, allowed his team to prepare themselves and disperse across Wall Street and corporate America without having their livelihoods affected.
“Persevering in times of uncertainty is all about your people,” says Taube. “With high integrity, high performing, and highly intelligent people, the best possible result will naturally occur.
Lesson 4 – Keep on Learning
“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other,” John F. Kennedy once said. Few industries change as quickly and, at times, as dramatically as the world of finance. As a result, leadership in finance requires continued learning and a willingness to change.
Brook Taube’s learning style, naturally, relies heavily on experience as his best teacher. Recently, he has provided analysis as well as practical and cautionary commentary on the regulatory control of the new, sometimes experimental digital currencies, crypto assets, decentralized finance, and cryptocurrency.
Lesson 5 – Contribute Beyond Your Business
Brook Taube is, above all, an involved member of his community, both in business and as an enthusiastic supporter of civic activities. As such, he has served on the boards of the New York Philharmonic and the New Amsterdam Symphony, and he remains a passionate violin and viola player in his own right. In his commitment to a number of philanthropic causes, he has also donated millions to the arts, mental health, and cancer-fighting initiatives.
A Final Thought – Summing Up
Learning from experience has given Brook Taube Lessons in Leadership worth sharing.
“I don’t think I’ve reached the point where I can confidently call myself a great leader,” Brook admits. “But if I had to pinpoint the qualities that have helped me succeed in leading others, I would say gratitude, hard work, and empathy are key.”
As the world continues to evolve, embracing the lessons from this billion-dollar builder can pave the way for success, not only in business but also in making a positive impact on society.
