Tom Steyer and Kat Taylor
Insights from a legendary couple in investing, politics, and climate
It was super fun to host an Icons dinner with Tom Steyer and Kat Taylor. We learned so much from Tom and Kat about a wide array of topics. Thank you so much, Tom and Kat, for sharing your insights and experiences with us. Thanks to Asset Abdualiyev and Asror Arabjanov for hosting us at Silkroad Innovation Hub. Takeaways below:
How does Tom spend his time today, and why?
· Investing in businesses that will help solve the climate crisis
· Views business as best way to scale impact
· Estimates that will need $4T-$8T annually, and the only way to attract sufficient capital is market-rate returns
· At Galvanize, Tom invests in businesses across asset classes, from venture capital to real estate, that are working to reverse climate change
Where does Kat see a big opportunity to reduce carbon emissions?
· Regenerative agriculture – sequestering carbon in the ground and increasing soil fertility
· Kat runs TomKat Ranch – an 1800-acre grassfed cattle ranch in the San Francisco Bay Area
Why did Tom run for President in 2020?
· Existing candidates were not prioritizing core issues, namely climate
· Tom felt he could have an impact in this key area
What did Tom learn from running for President?
· Tom loved meeting Americans from across the country
· Everyone has a unique, incredibly interesting story and perspective
What enabled Farallon Capital to realize such good returns?
· Constant innovation – they did 20 startups within one company
· Kept developing new, creative investment strategies once market discovered previous ideas to always have an area where they maintained an edge
Key Insights
· If you can complete your life’s mission within your life, think bigger
· Having a successful company is all about the people
· AI will change every single product/service/experience just like the Internet
· Business, not government or philanthropy, is the best way to improve society
· Ask yourself: Do you want the measure of your life to just be a number? How can you find a deeper meaning?
