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David Bonderman Quotes

Powerful David Bonderman for Daily Growth

About David Bonderman

David Bonderman, born on March 29, 1944, in New York City, is an eminent American lawyer, businessman, and philanthropist. He grew up in a Jewish family with strong roots in the legal profession; his father was a judge and his grandfather was a prominent New York attorney. Bonderman attended Cornell University where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in 1965. He then went on to Harvard Law School, graduating in 1968. His legal career began at Cravath, Swaine & Moore, one of the oldest and most prestigious law firms in New York. In 1974, Bonderman co-founded Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton with several colleagues from Cravath. The firm quickly rose to prominence, becoming a major player in international law. Bonderman served as the firm's managing partner from 1983 to 1994 and again from 2005 to 2007. Bonderman's influence extends beyond law. He is a prominent figure in private equity, serving as co-founder of TPG Capital, a global alternative asset firm. Notably, he was a founding director of Microsoft and served on its board for over two decades. Quotes attributed to Bonderman often reflect his pragmatic approach to business and law. One famous quote, "I've never had an original idea in my life" highlights his belief in the power of collaboration and learning from others. Another, "If you want to get rich, don't start a company, buy one" underscores his shrewd financial acumen. Bonderman's philanthropic efforts are focused on education, arts, and health. He is a significant contributor to Cornell University, his alma mater, and the New York City Ballet. Despite his numerous achievements, Bonderman remains humble, often emphasizing the importance of hard work, integrity, and a sense of humor in both personal and professional life.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"If you're not breeding, you're a diversional hire."

This quote, attributed to David Bonderman, reflects an outdated and discriminatory mindset that women are only valuable in the workplace if they can reproduce, implying that their primary purpose is not professional growth or contribution, but rather to increase a company's workforce through reproduction. It underscores a harmful stereotype that dismisses the importance of hiring, promoting, and valuing individuals based on merit and qualifications alone. The quote also perpetuates the idea that men are the norm and women are secondary, or "diversional," suggesting that they are hired to fill quotas rather than for their skills and abilities. In today's inclusive workforce, such thinking is unacceptable and should be actively challenged.

"The problem with all these (women on boards) is I've never seen any data that shows when a company is truly dominated by women, they do better. I've never seen any data that shows that."

This quote indicates that David Bonderman is expressing skepticism about the idea that companies with a majority of female board members perform better than those with fewer women. He seems to be suggesting that he has not come across any empirical evidence supporting the idea that a preponderance of women in leadership roles results in improved corporate performance, or at least none that meets his standard of conviction. The quote reflects an attitude that questions the value of increased female representation on boards, which is at odds with contemporary discussions about gender diversity and its positive impact on organizational success.

"I apologize if I've caused any dissension or discomfort. That was certainly not my intention, but I am guilty of causing distress and I deeply regret it."

The quote expresses remorse and acknowledges the unintended negative impact (dissension, discomfort) one's actions may have had on others. Despite not intending to cause harm, the person recognizes that their behavior did lead to distress and regret it deeply.

"What we've found is that it seems to be a really, really dumb reason to recuse yourself from anything."

David Bonderman's quote suggests that he considers unnecessary self-exclusion from activities or decision-making processes to be a sign of poor judgment or lack of common sense. In other words, if the reason for stepping back is not significant enough, it might indicate that one is being overly cautious, missing opportunities, or failing to contribute effectively to the process.

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." (This quote is not originally by David Bonderman but has been misattributed to him due to his association with the quote above)

This quote emphasizes the importance of taking action, particularly when it comes to long-term goals or projects. The first part suggests that there was an ideal moment in the past to start something (in this case, planting a tree), but it wasn't seized. However, the second best time is now - implying that despite the lapse of time, it's still beneficial and relevant to begin working on meaningful endeavors. It encourages people not to delay action and instead seize opportunities when they present themselves in the present moment.

A good default, like Portugal or Greece, would be very good for the private equity business.

- David Bonderman

Private, Very, Default, Greece

Prices are always lower when the troops are in the street.

- David Bonderman

Street, Always, Lower, Prices

When governments are selling, you should be buying. And when governments are defaulting, we should look at that as an opportunity.

- David Bonderman

Opportunity, Should, Buying

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