Money. Connections. Access. All things people in top circles often possess. But what if you’re not born into such privileged circumstances? What if there’s not a straightforward path to navigate? Closed doors. Barriers to overcome.
This was the situation for Ian Bremmer, now the world’s most prominent political scientist.
Having lost his father at age four, Bremmer was raised by his mother in housing projects outside of Boston. He didn’t grow up with lots of money or connections, only a deep desire to pursue a career that would make a difference to the world. Now he advises heads of state and CEOs as the founder of Eurasia Group, the world’s leading political risk research and consulting firm.
“I want to make a difference. I want to matter. I want to feel like I've had purpose. How can I do that?”
Bremmer found inspiration and support from the strong women in his family, particularly his mother, and at age just 15, having worked incredibly hard, his academic excellence earned him a scholarship to Tulane University. From here he pushed his professors to use their own connections to help him later get an offer from Stanford to study further. If he hadn’t continued to push, to utilise the mentors he had, he may not have had the offer.
Having completed his studies, Bremmer was determined to work as a political scientist. The only problem, this role simply didn’t exist in the private sector. He had to create his own.
Through his work and his own personal journey Bremmer has learnt countless lessons which he shares. He emphasises the importance of acknowledging skills and developing them. The importance of finding people to learn from, to use their expertise. The value of time, effort, and authenticity.
Today Bremmer uses his platform to inspire young people to engage with global issues and encourages them to pursue their own passions.
“It's an honour. It's a responsibility. It's a vocation. It feels more important to me than anything else I do.”
