Early Life
Stephen A. Jarislowsky was born in Berlin, Germany, on September 9, 1925. His parents, Kaethe and Alfred Jarislowsky, were Jewish, and the family fled the Nazis, moving to the Netherlands and France before immigrating to the United States in 1941. He attended preparatory school in Asheville, North Carolina, and studied mechanical engineering at Cornell University for two years before serving in the U.S. Army. He also studied Japanese at the University of Chicago before serving in counterintelligence in Japan after the war.
Rise to Success
After returning to the United States, Jarislowsky earned an MA from the University of Chicago in 1946 and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1949. He worked for Alcan Aluminium for three years before founding Jarislowsky, Fraser Limited in Montreal in 1955. Under his leadership, the firm became one of Canada's largest and most successful investment management companies. Jarislowsky retired from dispensing financial advice professionally after selling his company to Scotiabank for $950 million in 2018.
Key Business Strategies
Jarislowsky's approach to investing emphasized long-term strategies and ethical behavior. He focused on solid investment counseling, avoiding short-term results. He believed in the importance of understanding a company's entire business, from its competitors to its management. Jarislowsky was also known for his focus on value investing and shareholder rights.
Philanthropy
Jarislowsky is a prominent philanthropist, donating $15 million annually through the Jarislowsky Foundation to support higher education, medicine, science, the arts, and the environment. He has established numerous university chairs and supported various cultural and charitable initiatives. He co-founded the Canadian Coalition for Good Governance to promote business ethics.
