On February 25, 2025, Robert F. Smith joined journalist Julie Hyman for a discussion at the 788th Meeting of the Economic Club of New York. The conversation covered themes like tech and enterprise software investment, the rise of artificial intelligence and Vista Equity Partners’ (Vista) work and business practices.
Specifically, Smith spoke about providing equal access to opportunities for everyone and highlighted how merit-based hiring helps companies choose the best candidates. He also noted that companies must widen their focus to find top talent, emphasizing that a wide range of perspectives increases the probability of returns and decreases risk.
Ahead, we discuss the history and mission of the Economic Club of New York, Smith’s connection to Columbia Business School and the Columbia Smith scholars cohort that attended this year’s meeting.
Watch a clip from the discussion.
The Economic Club of New York: An Enduring Discussion Forum
The Economic Club of New York was founded in 1907 by J.W. Beatson as a forum to debate the day’s issues. It has hosted speakers to discuss various topics, including the role of business in the community, the economy, American prosperity and the space race. The Club has hosted figures like U.S. presidents Woodrow Wilson, John F. Kennedy and George H.W. Bush and international leaders like Winston Churchill for discussions about the critical global economic, social and political issues of the day.
The nonprofit organization still facilitates the study and discussion of pressing social and economic issues to this day, bringing together thought leaders with diverse views. Its mission is to promote freedom of expression, making the Club a catalyst for innovation of thought.
In his 2025 discussion, Smith focused on creating equality of opportunity for all. He further explored how the American workforce offers a competitive advantage because of its variety of backgrounds and viewpoints. His appearance at the event also allowed him to connect with the newest generation of thought leaders from his latest cohort of Smith scholars at his alma mater, Columbia Business School.
Smith’s Support of Columbia Business School
Smith is a champion of equality of opportunity for the next generation, especially in education and the workforce. At the meeting, he spent time with the latest cohort of Columbia Business School scholars of the Robert F. Smith ’94 Scholarship Fund. These exceptional students are part of the scholarship program created after Smith provided Columbia Business School with a gift of $10 million. Smith’s donation will support approximately 200 MBA students with partial or full scholarships over 10 years. Scholarships are awarded to enrolled students who graduated from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), have overcome hardships or faced challenges in their academic pursuits.
In 2017, Smith also gave $15 million to help Columbia Business School reach its $500 million fundraising goal for its expansion into the Manhattanville neighborhood in West Harlem. The institution’s West Harlem branch opened its doors in January 2022. In 2024, he moderated a panel at the 7th Annual Women’s Business Leadership in Technology Conference: Shaping the Future of Tech and Business. The panel featured three women executives from Vista portfolio companies discussing generative AI and how it will impact the future of business and innovation.
Watch the full panel discussion.
For more on Smith, his support of Columbia Business School and other speaking engagements, follow him on LinkedIn.
