The Stoic Capitalist – Advice for the Exceptionally Ambitious | How To Academy

Mon, 12 May 2025

6:15 pm - 7:30 pm BST

The Stoic Capitalist – Advice for the Exceptionally Ambitious

Robert Rosenkranz in Conversation With Paul van Zyl

The Stoic ideal has been around since 300BC, but what can we learn from it today? Billionaire philanthropist Robert Rosenkranz reveals how to put ancient philosophy to practical use.

In the 21st century, stoic philosophy is often evoked as a way of becoming more resilient in the face of life’s hardships. But does it have the potential to do more than help us cope with life’s challenges? Can the advice of the ancients help us lead a life of accomplishment, fulfilment, and impact?

Born into a working-class family, the business leader and philanthropist Robert Rosenkranz is a self-made billionaire who has employed the wisdom of the stoics to drive success in his personal and professional life.

In this live, In Conversation event, he will introduce us to the biggest names of antiquity and many of the extraordinary modern characters they have influenced along the way, from RAND nuclear strategists to pioneering artists, scientist-entrepreneurs, and the icons of the Wall Street boom years. And most important of all, he’ll show you how ancient wisdom and practical advice can help you, too, to realise your most important dreams.

Praise for Robert Rosenkranz’s The Stoic Capitalist:

‘An extraordinary mixture of philosophical, psychological and business insights, The Stoic Capitalist is the culmination of a lifetime’s thought and experience by one of America’s most successful men.’ – Andrew Roberts

‘The Stoic Capitalist is as much about life as career, as much about personal growth as professional development, and as much about giving back as getting ahead. An inspiring story of a life well-lived.’ – Michael Bloomberg

‘This book is a fascinating account of a startling life, which not only epitomises the American dream, but also highlights the little-known power of Stoic ideas and the way that they can guide a career.’ – Gillian Tett

Tickets to this event are at a £15 discount for members to How To +, and members can also watch the livestream for free.

 

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Robert Rosenkranz

Business Leader and Philanthropist

Through grit, intellect, and the good luck of life-changing mentors at an early age, Robert Rosenkranz rose from working class origins. He became a self-made billionaire as a pioneer in private equity, multi-strategy hedge funds, and the insurance industry. Beyond business, he is a patron of the arts and medical science, and a quietly influential champion of civil discourse and free speech. Hoping to create the institutions he felt that society needed, he launched the acclaimed NPR program, Open to Debate, funded Impetus Grants to extend human healthspans, and is founding Canyon, an innovative cultural institution in New York to showcase immersive work at the intersection of visual art, sound, music, and technology.

Paul van Zyl

Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer, The Conduit Club

Paul van Zyl is the co-Founder of The Conduit and Chief Executive Officer. Paul is a winner of the prestigious Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship and was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He served as the Executive Secretary of South Africa’s post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission and co-founded the International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), an international human rights organisation based in New York City.