A special thank you to Professor Lauren Cohen for taking the time to join me on Beyond the Case and for continuing to inspire so many of us through the Harvard Business School OPM program. This conversation was a reminder that leadership is not only about building companies, it is also about intentionally designing the life around them.

From growing up in a small farming town and discovering markets through a fifth-grade stock competition to becoming a professor at Harvard Business School, Professor Cohen reflected on a journey shaped by curiosity, meritocracy, and a love of learning.

We explored one of the questions many leaders wrestle with: What does success really mean? Professor Cohen shared why he chose academia over hedge funds, while candidly acknowledging there was never a single “right” answer - only the path that aligned with the life and values he continues to choose.

The conversation also centered around family and intentionality. Through work, learning, travel, and powerlifting, he shared how he creates experiences that allow his children to understand the journey behind achievement and participate in the things that matter most to him.

We also discussed family offices, succession, family enterprises, and the balancing act between preserving wealth, governance, and family unity, highlighting that enduring businesses are ultimately built on people, values, and communication.

The episode closed with a simple but powerful idea: say yes more often. Many defining moments in life arrive unexpectedly, and intentional living means placing yourself where those moments can happen.

Here are the Top 10 Takeaways from the conversation:

Choose environments where merit and values matter more than status.
Success is not one decision—it is the life you continue to choose.
Share your passions with your family so they understand the journey behind them.
Introduce responsibility early; people often rise to expectations.
Ideas create value only when they can be clearly communicated.
Health, strength, and discipline compound over time.
Family enterprises require intentional design, not inherited assumptions.
Maximizing wealth and maximizing family unity are not always the same goal.
Finance is evaluation—the ability to understand and improve systems.
Say yes more often; opportunity favors participation.

Books:

Everything Is Obvious (Once You Know the Answer)