Key Takeaways
- • Ray Dalio '71, founder of Bridgewater Associates (the world's largest hedge fund), returned to Long Island University as the featured speaker for the Centennial CEO Speaker Series and will deliver the keynote address at the May 2026 Centennial Commencement ceremony.
- • Dalio will receive an honorary degree from LIU and engaged directly with senior partners in LIU-iF, the University's student-management investment fund, signaling institutional support for the next generation of financial leaders.
- • Long Island University's Centennial Commencement will award graduating students scholarships to learn Transcendental Meditation, reflecting Dalio's long-held belief that the practice has been instrumental to his personal and professional success.
- • Dalio credited his financial achievements primarily to disciplined meditation practice, which he began in 1968—a daily practice he maintained throughout his career, including during his tenure as co-CEO of Bridgewater until 2017.
- • The Centennial celebration positions LIU's business education within a broader narrative of mentorship from industry leaders, with the CEO Speaker Series continuing to feature prominent alumni including AMC Networks CEO Kristin Dolan '15 in April 2026.
Summary
Ray Dalio, the billionaire founder of Bridgewater Associates and a New York Times bestselling author, returned to his alma mater, Long Island University, to headline the Centennial CEO Speaker Series in February 2026 before a packed audience at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts. During his visit, Dalio engaged in a candid conversation with the university community, reflecting on his formative years at LIU and sharing insights on leadership and artificial intelligence. He also met with senior partners in LIU-iF, the University's student-management investment fund housed within the School of Business, providing direct mentorship to emerging financial professionals.
Dalio will return to the Long Island University campus in May 2026 to receive an honorary degree and deliver the keynote address at the institution's Centennial Commencement ceremony. This recognition underscores his significance as one of LIU's most influential alumni and his ongoing commitment to the institution's educational mission.
A distinctive feature of the Centennial Commencement will be a scholarship program enabling graduates to learn the Transcendental Meditation technique. This initiative reflects Dalio's well-documented advocacy for meditation as a cornerstone of success. The billionaire investor has consistently attributed his achievements more to his meditation practice—which he began in 1968, influenced by The Beatles—than to any other factor. He practices Transcendental Meditation twice daily and credits the discipline with enhancing his open-mindedness, higher-level perspective, equanimity, and creativity. Dalio maintained this practice throughout his career, including during his years as co-CEO of Bridgewater Associates until 2017.
The Centennial celebration positions LIU within a broader institutional narrative of mentorship and leadership development, with the CEO Speaker Series continuing to feature accomplished alumni. The series lineup includes Kristin Dolan '15, Chief Executive Officer of AMC Networks, scheduled to speak in April 2026. These signature events reinforce the university's centennial messaging around impact and the professional trajectories of its graduates.
Dalio will return to the Long Island University campus in May 2026 to receive an honorary degree and deliver the keynote address at the institution's Centennial Commencement ceremony. This recognition underscores his significance as one of LIU's most influential alumni and his ongoing commitment to the institution's educational mission.
A distinctive feature of the Centennial Commencement will be a scholarship program enabling graduates to learn the Transcendental Meditation technique. This initiative reflects Dalio's well-documented advocacy for meditation as a cornerstone of success. The billionaire investor has consistently attributed his achievements more to his meditation practice—which he began in 1968, influenced by The Beatles—than to any other factor. He practices Transcendental Meditation twice daily and credits the discipline with enhancing his open-mindedness, higher-level perspective, equanimity, and creativity. Dalio maintained this practice throughout his career, including during his years as co-CEO of Bridgewater Associates until 2017.
The Centennial celebration positions LIU within a broader institutional narrative of mentorship and leadership development, with the CEO Speaker Series continuing to feature accomplished alumni. The series lineup includes Kristin Dolan '15, Chief Executive Officer of AMC Networks, scheduled to speak in April 2026. These signature events reinforce the university's centennial messaging around impact and the professional trajectories of its graduates.
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