What if success depends less on merit and more on the quiet transfer of status? In this episode, Guy Kawasaki interviews Toby Stuart, UC Berkeley Haas professor and leading expert on innovation and social networks, to break open the unseen systems that shape who rises and why.

Drawing from his new book Anointed, Toby explains how institutions — universities, investors, employers — confer credibility in ways that compound over a lifetime. He and Guy explore Silicon Valley myths, reverse anointment, and why AI may both democratize and distort fairness.

A sharp, eye-opening look at achievement, status, and the stories we tell ourselves about merit.

---

Guy Kawasaki is on a mission to make you remarkable. His Remarkable People podcast features interviews with remarkable people such as Jane Goodall, Marc Benioff, Woz, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Bob Cialdini. Every episode will make you more remarkable.

With his decades of experience in Silicon Valley as a Venture Capitalist and advisor to the top entrepreneurs in the world, Guy’s questions come from a place of curiosity and passion for technology, start-ups, entrepreneurship, and marketing. If you love society and culture, documentaries, and business podcasts, take a second to follow Remarkable People.

Listeners of the Remarkable People podcast will learn from some of the most successful people in the world with practical tips and inspiring stories that will help you be more remarkable.

Episodes of Remarkable People organized by topic: https://bit.ly/rptopology

Listen to Remarkable People here: **https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guy-kawasakis-remarkable-people/id1483081827**

Like this show? Please leave us a review -- even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!

Thank you for your support; it helps the show!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why Anointment Decides Who Really Rises, with Toby Stuart