10 Questions with Greystone's Founder and Executive Chairman, Stephen Rosenberg

In an exclusive 10 question interview with our Founder and Executive Chairman, Steve Rosenberg talks about the lessons he’s learned in business over the years and his most crucial decisions at Greystone. Read the full interview below.

Where does Greystone’s drive to be innovative come from?

Bringing creative, innovative solutions means being competitive – doing what no one else is doing for clients and the industry.  We can make mistakes and experiment – that’s a part of life here. That is a benefit of being a private company.

With our competitive spirit and desire of more than just profits, we can create things and figure things out that no one has yet – that’s our driver. Our “fuel to the fire.”

How did Greystone come to define its culture through “Where People Matter?”

I was brought up learning every human should be respected - no matter who they were, and no matter what their job was. My parents shared what they had. It’s all I’ve known.

How does Greystone’s mantra, “Where People Matter,” permeate the organization?

It is a simple formula.

Number One: You never stop talking about it.

Number Two: You reward people who demonstrate that culture. Do you foster a culture that rewards people that demonstrate kindness? You need to publicize the behavior that cultivates the culture and make sure you don't tolerate people that don't exemplify that culture - which is not easy.

What routine in your personal life do you look forward to every day?

I love this question because the routine is what I look forward to every day. In all seriousness, Number One, staying healthy – I make sure I exercise every single day.

Number Two, being organized – If I leave my home, you cannot tell that anyone had been there.

Number Three, efficiency – The last thing I do every day is make a to-do list for the next day, so my priorities are clearly laid out and I just need to execute.

What is the most crucial decision you've made in the past 100 days?

Bringing in Gaye Erkan as CEO recently has been a pivotal decision for Greystone. I’m certainly not backing away in my new role as Executive Chairman – I’m even more energized than ever to grow the firm. Gaye brings both complimentary and brand-new skills to the company that will help us reach our full potential across a growing suite of financial services.

What’s the most unexpected lesson you've learned in your journey?

The most important lesson I’ve learned is that human beings generally have good hearts. That’s why I put so much effort into making Greystone a place where people feel good.

More importantly, I want Greystone to be a place where people can feel open and admit to making mistakes – that’s how we grow as humans and ultimately as a firm. When people can make mistakes, they will feel accountable, find solutions, and importantly learn from these mistakes. It’s how we have built a culture that promotes entrepreneurship.

What is the most important thing you learned in closing deals? What role did it play in shaping your business?

I think one of the most important lessons I've ever learned is the value of clear communication. Some of the most brilliant and most successful people in the world can communicate complex messages and make complex deals sound simple and resonate, not everyone can do this. That I find is a true skill.

How did giving back come to mean so much to you and how do you incorporate that into the culture at Greystone?

The assumption in that question about giving back, is that what you have to give first belongs to you. I don’t believe it does. I think that everything we have is just a “temporary deposit.” I see myself as a trustee of these “temporary deposits” or resources, and I push them in a direction to help those in need.

Looking back on the almost 35 years since you’ve started Greystone, what moments are you most proud of?

I think that the proudest moments are probably ones where we were so close to failure and didn't ever give up. In those early days and during the crisis of 2008, we had defining moments, yet we survived and came back stronger, and I am most proud of the fact that even when we were in dire straits, integrity was always top of mind and never, ever sacrificed one time.

What is a fact that others may not know about you?

In 5th grade, my school did a play about George Washington. I got the idea in my head – I wanted to be George Washington.

They handed out the scripts before auditions and I memorized the entire role. I came in to the teacher and I said, I already memorized the entire George Washington role. Can I have it? That was when I started to learn, if you want something, ask for it.   

Stephen Rosenberg is the Executive Chairman of Greystone. He founded the firm in 1988 and has grown it to have a national presence and strategic partnerships. Steve holds a D.M.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School.