The Profile: The Wall Street investor on his second act & the company building a driverless future
This edition of The Profile features Ryan Reynolds, Anthony Scaramucci, Ringo Starr, and Luke Littler.
Good morning, friends!
So often, we talk about challenges as things we’ve faced head-on. But sometimes, the real challenge is in what we don’t do — the risks we avoid, the leaps we never take. It’s the difference between playing to win and playing not to lose.
’s Substack , I reflected on one of the biggest personal shifts in my life: leaving a stable job at Fortune to build something of my own. Here’s what I shared:When you think back on your life, what would you call some of the main challenges you've been through?
The biggest challenge was probably learning the societal norms and cultural norms of moving to this country. But the other thing, for me, if I had to think about my life's theme in terms of challenge, it's not necessarily that I tried and it didn't work out. It's more that I didn't try, and I don't know if it would have worked out.
The reason leaving Fortune and doing this on my own was such a big thing for me is because it was a big risk. And as someone who is an immigrant, I wanted to mitigate risk. So my whole life became about mitigating risk.
Very rarely do we talk about challenges being the path not taken, the risk not taken, the venture not taken. So I would say it's a mix of having enough confidence in myself to know that I have the skills to have it work out, and being able to take the leap to something that has potential upside. Versus only seeing the downside.
Read the full interview here:
PROFILES.
— The actor rewriting the script for celebrity entrepreneurs [**HIGHLY RECOMMEND**]
— The Wall Street investor on his second act
— One of the last surviving Beatles
— The world’s best darts player
— The company building a driverless future
PEOPLE TO KNOW.
The actor rewriting the script for celebrity entrepreneurs: Ryan Reynolds isn’t just a movie star — he’s a $14 billion marketing juggernaut. With Maximum Effort, he’s turned gin, telecom, and even a scrappy Welsh soccer team into viral gold. His secret? Blend storytelling with self-deprecating charm, and sell it all. Deadpool made him famous — branding made him unstoppable. (TIME)
“I’m obsessive. Even right now I’m thinking what I have after you, and if I can get back to it again.”
The Wall Street investor on his second act: Another profile on Anthony Scaramucci! It’s about his transformation into a political and financial force, leveraging his charisma, podcast, and crypto-focused SALT conferences to rebrand himself. Though still brash and theatrical, “the Mooch” now uses his platform to warn against authoritarianism, criticize Trump, and reflect on history with surprising depth. This is very surreal for me because this article was published by FORTUNE, and it cites The Profile’s own recent original profile on Scaramucci from February. (FORTUNE)
“They call me the Mooch for a reason.”
One of the last surviving Beatles: Ringo Starr, now turning 85, continues to perform with boundless energy, recently releasing a country album and touring with his All-Starr Band. Despite being underestimated for years, fellow musicians like Paul McCartney and Max Weinberg praise his uniquely melodic, expressive drumming and selfless artistry. Starr’s longevity is fueled by a deep love for playing music and a life of sobriety since 1988, embodied in his signature mantra: “peace and love.” As one of the last surviving Beatles, his bond with McCartney has only grown stronger, grounded in shared memories that no one else can replicate. (The New York Times; alternate link)
“I live in the now. I didn’t plan any of it. I love that life I’m allowed to live.”
The world’s best darts player: At just 18, Luke Littler has transformed darts from a pub game into a youth-driven phenomenon — all while dominating the sport with a swagger that feels both instinctive and surreal. Littler picked up a dart before he could speak and now sits atop the global rankings after a historic rookie season. He’s sparked a cultural shift, inspiring a new generation of kids to join darts leagues and turning arenas into sold-out, costumed spectacles. (The New York Times; alternate link)
“It’s like, when you’re just good at something, you just kind of want to keep doing it, right?”
COMPANIES TO WATCH.
The company building a driverless future: Waymo is quietly building the driverless future we've long imagined — logging over 2 million autonomous miles a week and proving it can be safer than human drivers. Backed by Alphabet, the robotaxi company is expanding city by city, prioritizing safety, transparency, and trust as it races competitors like Tesla and Zoox. But economic and ethical questions loom: from job losses and privacy concerns to whether $120K cars can ever turn a profit. Still, Waymo’s mission remains clear — reimagine mobility not just with tech, but with humans at the center.
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