Get All Access for $5/mo

'Work Your A-- Off and Give a S--t': Jamie Dimon Offers Advice to His Future Successor The Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase detailed his feelings on the ideal traits of his successor at JPMorgan Chase's 2023 Investor Day.

By Dan Bova

Bloomberg | Getty Images

During JPMorgan Chase's 2023 Investor Day yesterday, Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon was asked what he thought were the important characteristics of who would eventually replace him. Dimon, who perhaps has been glued to HBO's "Succession" like the rest of us, seems to have had a little Logan Roy rub off on him and answered rather bluntly: "I think the most important traits [are] that you're trusted and respected by people, that you work your a-- off, that you give a s--t, that you know you don't know everything."

Related: JPMorgan Chase CEO on Crypto: 'Decentralized Ponzi Schemes'

Dimon went on to discuss what he says are keys to great leadership, signaling out curiosity, courage, and grit. "That you're willing to change direction, you're willing to go in front of your shareholders and say, 'We screwed up, we made a mistake, we were wrong about that,'" he explained.

These are the kinds of attributes that we can all aspire to, but in Dimon's words, they are not things that can be learned or taught. "[I]f you don't have grit, you don't have it. [If] you don't have courage, you don't have it," he said.

Related: JPMorgan Chase Reportedly Owns Rocks Instead of Nickel

The New York Times declares that JPMorgan Chase is "dominant" right now. It has nearly 4,800 branches in the continental U.S., and the investment bank "regularly outperforms" the likes of Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.

While Dimon isn't expected to step down soon (almost certainly not before he is scheduled to collect a $50 million payout in 2026), the Times gave a scouting report on who might come next, picking Marianne Lake and Jennifer Piepszak, who jointly run Chase's consumer operations, as the frontrunners.

We'll likely have to wait until 2027 to find out which of them gives a s--t more.

Related: Are You an Authoritative Leader Like Logan Roy or a Personality Hire Like Cousin Greg? Which 'Succession' Character Are You At Work?

Dan Bova

Entrepreneur Staff

VP of Special Projects

Dan Bova is the VP of Special Projects at Entrepreneur.com. He previously worked at Jimmy Kimmel Live, Maxim, and Spy magazine. His latest books for kids include This Day in History, Car and Driver's Trivia ZoneRoad & Track Crew's Big & Fast Cars, The Big Little Book of Awesome Stuff, and Wendell the Werewolf

Read his humor column This Should Be Fun if you want to feel better about yourself.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Leadership

7 Telltale Signs of a Weak Leader

Whether a bully or a people pleaser who can't tell hard truths, poor leadership takes many forms.

Franchise 500 Annual Ranking

50 Franchise CMOs Who Are Changing the Game

Get to know the industry's most influential marketing power players.

Thought Leaders

6 Tips From a Clean Beauty Entrepreneur

Sarah Biggers went from a newbie in the natural beauty space to a pro in just a few years. Here are six things she wishes she'd known at the beginning.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Marketing

5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Giving a Presentation

Are you tired of enduring dull presentations? Over the years, I have compiled a list of common presentation mistakes and how to avoid them. Here are my top five tips.

Science & Technology

5 Rule-Bending AI Hacks to Make Your Mornings More Productive and Profitable

By 2025, AI will transform productivity by streamlining workflows and cutting costs. Major companies like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are leading the way, advancing AI into "Phase 3," where tools act as digital assistants. Discover 5 AI hacks to boost efficiency and redefine your daily routine.