An interview with visionary Eric Becker

Summary

Eric Becker, Founder and Co-Chairman of Cresset, discusses his new book, The Long Game, and the lessons he learned from companies that have lasted a century or more. He identifies common traits of enduring firms—stewardship, adaptability and a readiness to confront crises—and shares three practical pieces of advice for CEOs. Becker also highlights future growth areas including energy infrastructure, data centres to power AI, and AI-driven advances in biotech.

Key Points

Becker’s book, The Long Game, profiles ‘Centurions’—companies that have thrived for 100+ years and the leaders who steward them.
Enduring companies act decisively in crises, valuing moments of truth and trust over hope.
A mythbusting mindset—continuous adaptation and modernising language, products and culture—keeps legacy firms relevant.
Stewardship and ethical succession planning preserve purpose, reputation and long-term value across generations.
Becker’s three CEO tips: stop tolerating what undermines you, invest in relationships, and build a bedrock of relationships, reputation and standards.
Case studies include the Biltmore estate’s reinvention for survival and Barnes & Noble’s revival through local empowerment.
Near-term growth themes: energy and grid upgrades, large-scale data centres for AI, AI in biotech, and renewed interest in sustainable and nuclear energy.
Cresset’s own long-term stance: framing the firm as a 100-year journey and using employee ownership to align incentives.

Content Summary

Becker argues that modern business culture often over-values rapid scale and exits. Drawing on four decades of experience across more than 100 companies, he profiles long-lived firms to extract repeatable behaviours: confronting crises quickly, modernising without losing stewardship, and prioritising people and culture. The interview distils these lessons into three straightforward actions for leaders and outlines economic sectors likely to attract investment as digital and energy demands grow.

He illustrates these principles with vivid examples: Biltmore’s shift to public access to survive the Depression and Barnes & Noble’s cultural reset under a new CEO that restored local autonomy and customer experience.

Context and Relevance

This interview is timely for senior executives, family offices and founders thinking about legacy, resilience and succession. As economies invest heavily in AI, data infrastructure and energy, Becker’s emphasis on stewardship and long-term planning complements strategic conversations about sustainable growth and capital allocation. His view that strong relationships remain the most valuable currency is especially relevant as automation grows.

Why should I read this?

Short version: it’s packed with practical, no-nonsense takeaways from companies that actually lasted the test of time. If you’re a CEO, founder or investor who wants playbooks that aren’t just trendy soundbites, this is worth ten minutes of your time. Becker gives clear questions to ask (like “what am I tolerating but shouldn’t be?”), real examples you can learn from, and a simple framework to start tightening culture and succession today.