Former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein says Peter Thiel is wrong: College is worth it because it makes you a ‘complete person’

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Former Goldman Sachs boss Lloyd Blankfein hit back at tech leaders who say the degree is dead: Attending college is actually one of the best ways to open doors and grow confidence.

Business leaders are butting heads over whether the college degree is dead, arguing over its usefulness and overall value. Palantir cofounder Peter Thiel is meanwhile luring young entrepreneurs with $200,000 grants to ditch the “corrupt institution” of higher education and “build new things.”

But Lloyd Blankfein, former CEO of Goldman Sachs, is hitting back with his own two cents for budding workers.

“I strongly disagree with the technology investor Peter Thiel,” Blankfein wrote in an excerpt from his memoir, Streetwise, shared with Vanity Fair earlier this year. “To succeed in a career, you have to know the technical minutiae of your field, of course. But you also need to be a complete person—the kind of person other people want to engage with.”

One of the best ways aspiring professionals can grow as individuals and set themselves up for career success is by going to college, Blankfein advised.

The longtime executive is an alum of both Harvard University and Harvard Law School, and in remembering his undergraduate years recalled he “survived” the experience more than he enjoyed it. Blankfein conceded the Ivy League school might not be a perfect fit for everyone, but it undeniably opened doors for his future career and was “the best place to have gone.”

The ex–Goldman Sachs leader says the school nurtured his confidence, writing skills, love of history, and engagement with current events. And he might have missed out on that growth if he’d skipped the experience altogether; Blankfein recognizes the value in a liberal arts education.

“Your undergraduate years are your best opportunity to make yourself uncomfortable in a way that can help make you more curious and interesting,” Blankfein added.

Blankfein’s vocal appreciation for the college experience comes at a time when some tech leaders are challenging the efficacy of higher ed.

Just last spring, Palantir launched its Meritocracy Fellowship: a four-month, paid internship for recent high school graduates not enrolled in…

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