Second City Works presents "Getting to Yes, And" Getting to Yes, And… | Toby Stuart – ‘Social Status and Making Stars’
Oct 14, 2025
Toby Stuart, Leo Helzel Chair in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at UC Berkeley and author of Anointed, explains how social status shapes who rises in cultural markets. He discusses status-driven career launches, how gatekeepers anoint stars, and how AI may both equalize output and complicate how we evaluate and discover talent.
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Status Shapes How We Perform Daily
- Social status shapes everyday behavior as people unconsciously adjust to different social 'stages' like office, home, or a show.
- Toby Stuart likens life to rotating vignettes where expectations and hierarchy dictate how we present ourselves.
Obama's Instant Audience Pivot At Second City
- Kelly Leonard recounts Barack Obama changing posture and tone when meeting a diverse Second City cast.
- Obama’s quick, authentic pivot illustrates adapting presentation to audience context in real time.
Anointers Launch Careers More Than Merit
- Gatekeepers anoint talent and that selection often matters more than marginal differences in raw ability.
- Toby Stuart argues being chosen (e.g., by Second City) launches careers through attention, resources, and a self-reinforcing status cycle.
