Welcome to Edition #97 of Gorick's newsletter, where Harvard career advisor and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Gorick Ng shares what they don't teach you in school about how to succeed in your career.
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→ Read time: 6 min
STORY
What nepotism can teach us about making the most of the people you know
If you’ve ever seen The Matrix series, John Wick, or Speed, then you know Keanu Reeves. He was named the 4th greatest actor in Hollywood by the New York Times, one of the most influential people of 2022 by Time Magazine, and the “nicest guy in Hollywood.”
And, if you’ve ever spent any time on social media or Reddit, you’ll know that society isn’t fond of “nepo babies”—people who are “born into rich, famous and otherwise powerful families” which gives them “a leg up in life.”
So, you can imagine my intrigue the other day when I stumbled upon a Reddit thread debating whether or not Keanu Reeves is a nepo baby.
Why? Not because Reeves has famous parents you’d know by name, but because he was once babysat by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, Alice Cooper.
“Alice Cooper, I’m told, babysat me,” Reeves shared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
It turns out that Keanu's mother, Patricia Taylor, worked as a costume designer for a recording studio in Toronto. The role pulled her into the “rock and roll business,” which also meant that had "friends [who] had friends” in the industry. Cooper was one of the people Reeves’ mother met—and then hired as a babysitter.
Cooper later confirmed in a separate interview that he did, in fact, babysit 6-year-old Reeves while working on his first solo album in the 1970s. “I sat there and went, ‘What?’” Cooper said about watching Reeves on The Tonight Show. “I realized it was him. I used to babysit John Wick.”
Now, does this interaction—barely remembered by the two stars—mean Keanu had a foot in the door of Hollywood?
It’s debatable!
Take a look for yourself at what some Redditors had to say:
Whether or not you believe that Reeves counts as a “nepo baby,” there’s no denying that connections matter—and even outside of Hollywood.
- The CEO and President of the luxury brand Christian Dior, Delphine Arnault? She’s the daughter of the LVMH CEO, Bernard Arnault (who acquired and then helped the conglomerate become the world’s largest luxury goods group).
- The chairman of Reliance Industries, Mukesh Ambani? He’s the son of former CEO Dhirubhai Ambani (who founded and then turned Reliance Industries into India’s largest company).
- The CEO and President of FedEx Express, Richard Smith? He’s the son of former CEO Fred Smith (who founded and then turned FedEx into one of the world’s biggest package delivery companies).
Nepotism isn’t always so in-your-face, though. Most nepo babies aren’t famous enough to be covered by the press—but are no less getting a leg up.
For example, a 2022 study from Opportunity Insights, a research group at Harvard University, found that “those who work at a parent’s employer earn 19% more than those who don’t in their first job—largely because they gain access to higher-paying industries and firms.”
So, back to Reeves: Is he a nepo baby?
Like most things in life, nepotism exists on a spectrum—and isn’t a black-and-white idea.
Let’s return to our earlier definition—which frames nepo babies as people who are “born into rich, famous and otherwise powerful families” which gives them “a leg up in life.”
Reeves’ parents may not have been rich, famous, or powerful (at least not compared to the other examples above), but it’s hard to deny that he didn’t at least have a “leg up” in entertainment.
Chances are, Reeves met some actors, directors, or producers at one point who inspired him—and shared the unspoken rules with him. And these little advantages can really add up, especially over decades.
What does this mean for you? The next time you see someone in the spotlight at work or on the big screen, don’t just think about the unfair access they had (which isn’t quite in your control). Think instead about all the ways they made the most of the opportunities presented to them (which you can do, too).
UNSPOKEN RULE
Make the most of the people you know.
There’s something we can all learn from nepo babies, even if you didn’t exactly win the lottery of birth: The importance of being resourceful.
Here are 4 ways to navigate the world like a nepo baby—even if you aren’t a nepo baby.
1. Meet someone working in a field you’re interested in?
- Learn from them by asking, “I’ve always wanted to work in _______, especially given my [interest / background] in _______. Do you mind if I ask you some more questions about how to break in? I’d love to follow in your footsteps.”
2. Meet someone who knows someone you’re interested in talking to?
- See if you can get an intro by asking, “Did I see from _______ that you’re connected to _______? Might you be close enough to them to make an introduction? I’m working on _______ and would love to _______.”
3. Meet someone who is hiring for a job you’re interested in?
- Show your interest by asking, “I’d love to help you with _______ and have some ideas. What’s the best way for me to follow up?”
4. Meet someone who isn’t currently hiring for a job you’re interested in… but could be hiring in the future?
- Build trust early by asking, “Can I offer to be an extra pair of hands, especially when it comes to _______? (Happy to even volunteer my time if helpful.)”
Here’s the reality of networking: It isn’t enough to meet people. You need to connect with those people… work with those people… and build trust with those people.
Make the most of the people you know!
—Gorick
What’s an “unspoken rule”? They’re the things that separate those who get ahead from those who stumble—and don’t know why. You can learn more about these rules in the workplace in my Wall Street Journal bestselling book called—you guessed it—The Unspoken Rules.
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Sources:
- 4th greatest actor in Hollywood by the New York Times
- one of the most influential people of 2022 by Time Magazine
- “nicest guy in Hollywood.”
- “born into rich, famous and otherwise powerful families”
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, Alice Cooper
- “Alice Cooper, I’m told, babysat me,”
- By u/pilade100 via Reddit.
- By u/Maj_Histocompatible via Reddit.
- By u/BattleHall via Reddit.
- Delphine Arnault
- Mukesh Ambani
- Richard Smith
- 2022 study from Opportunity Insights
