Howard takes the helm

Howard Buffett, Warren Buffett's middle child, recently became chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. Warren retired as CEO on January first but kept the chairman role until last week. Howard now oversees the one point one trillion dollar company.

From farm to boardroom

Howard's path to the top was unconventional. He started farming in Tekamah, Nebraska in nineteen seventy-seven on property Warren purchased and leased to him. He also worked for Coca-Cola and ConAgra in the nineteen nineties and two thousands.

Learning by doing

Howard said farming pushed him outside his comfort zone. He had never farmed before renting his first farm. He learned as he went, and today farming is a huge part of his life and his foundation's work.

“Farming to me was totally getting outside my comfort zone.”

No college degree needed

Howard enrolled at Augustana College but left after clashing with his roommates. He attended other schools but never graduated. None of Warren's children finished college, and Warren said in two thousand twelve that college is not for everyone.

“I don't think college is for everyone.”

Farming and giving back

Howard established his foundation in nineteen ninety-nine to improve living standards for impoverished populations. Two affiliated entities focus on farming: the Sequoia Farm Foundation operates research farms in Illinois, Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico. He also sent over five hundred million dollars in aid to Ukraine since early two thousand twenty-two.

Success without the degree

Howard built a successful career spanning farming, board leadership, photography, and philanthropy. He even served as a small-town sheriff. His path shows that skipping college need not prevent reaching the top of one of the world's most valuable companies.