From the beis midrash to the biggest stage in global sports. ​Josh Kushner just agreed to acquire the Los Angeles Lakers in a historic deal valuing the franchise at over $12 billion—the highest price ever paid for an American sports team. ​Long before he built Thrive Capital into one of the most formidable venture powerhouses in tech, Kushner was a kid immersed in tradition: raised in an Orthodox Jewish home, a student at the Frisch School, and spending a transformative gap year learning Torah at Yeshivat Reishit in Beit Shemesh. ​Going from intensive Torah study and early mornings with a Gemara to commanding multi-billion-dollar boardrooms and now owning the most iconic franchise in basketball history is more than just a business milestone. ​It is proof of a timeless truth: you never have to dilute who you are to reach the absolute summit. Staying anchored to your roots, your faith, and your identity isn’t a limitation in the modern world—it’s the ultimate foundation for excellence. ​Never shrink your values for the room you want to be in. Build so high they have to meet you where you stand.