A lifetime achievement award that honors a living CEO whose work has produced exceptional returns for shareholders over many years.
Kenneth G. Langone is the chairman of Invemed Associates, a private investment company which includes the Langone family offices. He received a BA from Bucknell University and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business; he remains active with both institutions currently serving on the board of overseers of the Stern School and on the board of trustees of New York University where he is a vice chair. He also served as chairman of the Board the Trustees of New York University Langone Health from December 1999 until August 2025.
In April 2008, the medical center was renamed NYU Langone Health reflecting a major gift from Elaine and Ken. He was a member of the Bucknell University Board of Trustees where he served as Chairman of its nominating committee, its endowment and as a member of its executive committee.
He is a co-founder of The Home Depot and was lead director and a member of the executive committee of its board since it was founded in 1978 until 2008. He also serves on the board of Unifi, Inc. In addition, he serves on the boards of The Center for Strategic and International Studies where he is also a member of the Executive Committee, Horatio Alger Society Foundation, The Marcus Foundation and the Harlem Children’s Zone and its charter school, The Promise Academy and St. Patrick’s Cathedral where he led the fundraising effort for the restoration and renovation.
He and his wife Elaine have three sons and two grandchildren.
Honoree’s Charity: NYU Stern Langone Part-Time MBA program
The NYU Stern School of Business Part-time MBA program gives students a competitive edge without interrupting their career momentum. Designed for the working professional, our part-time offering allows professionals to continue working while taking classes. Develop cutting-edge leadership skills, honed by world-class faculty, and leverage NYU’s powerful networking opportunities to connect with industry experts and business leaders.
Tony Xu is the CEO and co-founder of DoorDash (NASDAQ: DASH), one of the world’s leading local commerce platforms that helps businesses of all kinds grow and innovate, connects consumers to the best of their neighborhoods, and gives people fast, flexible ways to earn in more than 30 countries. Through its Marketplace and Commerce Platform, DoorDash is driving economic vitality in the regions it serves worldwide.
Born in China, Tony came to America with his parents and grew up working in a restaurant alongside his mom. He and his co-founders started DoorDash to help local businesses succeed. Prior to co-founding DoorDash in 2013, Tony worked in Product at Square, led special projects for the CEO and CFO at eBay, and began his career at McKinsey and Company. Since January 2022, Tony has served on the board of directors of Meta Platforms, Inc., a technology company. He holds a B.S. with high honors in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he was an Arjay Miller Scholar.