Twenty DePaul graduate business students had an opportunity to ask the "Oracle of Omaha" Warren Buffett questions about careers, investing and the economy at an invitation-only event for MBA students hosted by the business magnate in Omaha Oct. 25. (Read MBA student Kate Stevenson's firsthand account of the trip).
DePaul was among seven business schools, including Harvard and Columbia, invited to send students to meet Buffett at the Kiewit Plaza headquarters of Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate he helms, and tour several of its Omaha-based ventures. The group was chosen from more than 300 DePaul MBA students who applied to meet the renowned CEO, investor and philanthropist.
Buffett answered a wide range of questions during a two-hour Q&A session with students. He advised them to be true to themselves and follow their career passions. "Very few people succeed at something that doesn't excite them," he said. "Find a job you would do even if you were already rich and didn't need the money. I'm 83 and still excited by what I do."
"Getting to interact with Mr. Buffett and visit several of his companies was a priceless opportunity," said MBA student Brad Harbaugh. "However, just as inspiring was getting to spend quality time with other DePaul students and to reflect on the ways our experiences at DePaul are preparing us to be leaders in our own right." (Read more on Harbaugh's blog).
While in town, the students also toured Berkshire's Nebraska Furniture Mart, Borsheims jewelry store and the Oriental Trading Co., meeting with executives at each of these companies. Dean Ray Whittington, Associate Dean Dan Heiser and Assistant Dean Christa Hinton joined the students on the trip.