Ken Griffin: If You’re Not Interested in Reading About Your Career, You’ve Chosen the Wrong Path

Ken Griffin, the CEO and founder of Citadel, has a straightforward piece of advice for young graduates: if you’re not interested in reading books about your field, then you’ve likely chosen the wrong career. In an interview with S&P Global, Griffin emphasized the importance of staying current in your industry’s knowledge base. He remarked, “If it’s not interesting to you, you picked the wrong career. It’s that simple.”

Griffin, who founded Citadel in 1990 right after his college graduation, acknowledged that it’s okay for young professionals to experiment with their careers early on. He pointed out that in the U.S., career exploration in your 20s is widely accepted and even encouraged. He also mentioned that no one should judge someone for pivoting to a new field during their early career stages.

However, Griffin also highlighted a challenge within his own company. Despite hiring many bright undergraduates, he noted that some new employees come with the misconception that their learning is complete after graduating college. “Some of them have this belief that when you graduate from college, you’re done reading textbooks, and nothing could be further from the truth,” he said. For Griffin, learning should continue well beyond graduation, especially when it comes to the evolving industries professionals are part of.

Citadel, one of the world’s largest hedge funds with $66 billion in assets under management, has a strong emphasis on continuous education, both formal and informal. Griffin’s book recommendation for those starting their careers is Jim Collins’ Good to Great, which delves into the essentials of business management, leadership, and team building.

In addition to Griffin’s suggestion, other influential business figures have also emphasized the importance of reading. For example, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have recommended Business Adventures by John Brooks, which offers a series of case studies on American corporate and financial life. Similarly, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta and Reid Hoffman of LinkedIn have championed The Lean Startup by Eric Ries, a guide to entrepreneurship and agile business strategies.

Other notable leaders, such as Bumble’s CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd and Airbnb’s Brian Chesky, have pointed to books like Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant, and High Output Management by Andy Grove, respectively, as essential reads for those seeking to make an impact in their fields.

For Griffin, the message is clear: to thrive in any career, you must be committed to lifelong learning. Whether it’s reading industry-related books or gaining new skills, staying engaged and informed is crucial for success in today’s fast-paced business world.