The Steward
Legacy, values and the long now, leadership as care and continuity.
Kasim Kutay embodies The Steward archetype with unusual clarity. As CEO of Novo Holdings, he frames his entire leadership mandate around perpetual custodianship of a foundation built to endure across generations, not quarters. Kutay repeatedly returns to the language of mission, purpose, and long-term compounding, articulating an 8% return target that feeds philanthropic capital rather than private gain.
“And they want to see that investment portfolio grow. And therefore, they take say three or four percent of the 8% we generate per annum. We say 3% of accessible capital. And so if we do 8% or more, that stays in the investment portfolio and continues to compound and grow the investment portfolio.”
“It takes seven to eight in Europe because of legacy anti-GMO sentiment. And that is something that European policymakers really need to focus on. Otherwise, it's just going to be another area where Europe, from an innovation perspective, falls behind other jurisdictions.”
“And as I went through your work, there seems to be quite a lot about antimicrobial resistance. Absolutely. I'll stop. You can answer, what's going on? Yeah.”
“Now, you must have known I was going to ask this question when we talked about golf, is that who would you most like to play with and which course? Ooh, good question. Very good question. Who would I most like to play with? Well, I mean, it's got to be Augusta. It has to be Augusta. And who would?”
Money Maze Podcast: “Novo Holdings: Controlling Shareholder of Novo Nordisk, Europe's Most Valuable Company - With CEO, Kasim Kutay”
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