Karl-Anthony Towns on Leading with Purpose on and off the Court
All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns has built a career defined by elite performance, resilience, and impact beyond the court. He joins Nicole Pullen Ross, Region Head of Northeast Private Wealth Management and Head of Sports and Entertainment Solutions at Goldman Sachs, to discuss mentorship, confidence under pressure and how his heritage has shaped his drive to create opportunities for underserved communities. This episode was recorded on February 20, 2026, in partnership with the Firmwide Black Network.
Transcript:
Nicole Pullen Ross: As you think about the vision that you have, the leadership that you share, your legacy, etc., what is the voice that you want the younger generation to hear from you?
Karl-Anthony Towns: There's different ways to lead than what you see on TV, or what social media tells you what a leader really is. When you hear sports, you hear about the person who's screaming the loudest, directing everybody and doing all the rah rah. But a lot of the times that's not the true leader. The true leader is the one that's in the background, making sure that characters and egos are all meshing together and personalities meet each other where they need to meet each other. And for me, my leadership style has always been since day one about servant leadership. I've always felt that my purpose in life was to serve others, I feel that in doing that, not only have I felt that I've gotten the best out of my teammates on the basketball court, but I've learned a tremendous amount of respect off the court. And it wasn't more about making them feel like I was the best or I was the top dog or anything like that, but instead making us all feel at the same level and accountable, and to be able to be talked to, to be able to be reached. It's something I've gotten more joy out of than actually getting the contracts or scoring the 60-point games or stuff like that. I live with one motto. Who I am is more important than what I do, even though what I do gets more attention than who I am. And I really live by that. And that's why for me, it’s always been regardless of what's said about me, what's perceived of me, I continue to walk out that door every day and try to spread love. I may not be accepted for it, but as long as I do my part, I can feel good going home every day, looking the man in the mirror and say, I've tried my best to make the world a better place today, and tomorrow we'll redo it again and we'll try to accomplish that goal again.
The opinions and views expressed herein are as of the date of publication, subject to change without notice, and may not necessarily reflect the institutional views of Goldman Sachs or its affiliates. The material provided is intended for informational purposes only, and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation from any Goldman Sachs entity to take any particular action, or an offer or solicitation to purchase or sell any securities or financial products. This material may contain forward-looking statements. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Neither Goldman Sachs nor any of its affiliates make any representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the statements or information contained herein and disclaim any liability whatsoever for reliance on such information for any purpose. Each name of a third-party organization mentioned is the property of the company to which it relates, is used here strictly for informational and identification purposes only and is not used to imply any ownership or license rights between any such company and Goldman Sachs.
A transcript is provided for convenience and may differ from the original video or audio content. Goldman Sachs is not responsible for any errors in the transcript. This material should not be copied, distributed, published, or reproduced in whole or in part or disclosed by any recipient to any other person without the express written consent of Goldman Sachs. Disclosures applicable to research with respect to issuers, if any, mentioned herein are available through your Goldman Sachs representative or at http://www.gs.com/research/hedge.html
Subscribe to Briefings
Our weekly newsletter delivers the latest insights on economic forces shaping markets—from Goldman Sachs leaders, economists, and investors around the world.
By submitting this information, you agree that the information you are providing is subject to Goldman Sachs’ Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You consent to receive our newsletter via email.