Keynote Speakers

Stephen A. Schwarzman
Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder
The Blackstone Group

Stephen A. Schwarzman is Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of The Blackstone Group. He has been involved in all phases of the firm's development since its founding in 1985 and approves all capital commitments by the firm.

Mr. Schwarzman began his career at Lehman Brothers, where he was elected Managing Director in 1978 at the age of 31. He was engaged principally in the firm's mergers and acquisitions business from 1977 to 1984, and served as Chairman of the firm's Mergers & Acquisitions Committee in 1983 and 1984.

Mr. Schwarzman is Chairman of the Board of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and The Business Council, and is on the boards of various organizations, including the New York Public Library, the New York City Ballet, the Film Society of Lincoln Center, the JP Morgan Chase National Advisory Board and the New York City Partnership Board of Directors. Mr. Schwarzman is also a Trustee of The Frick Collection in New York City.

Mr. Schwarzman holds a BA from Yale University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He has served as an adjunct professor at the Yale School of Management.