Despite his frequent travel and demanding calendar, Blackstone president Jon Gray aims to answer every email before sleeping, even if only to note he will review it later in detail. He encouraged this summer's interns to build the same routine.

"Responsiveness is a habit that you can learn that wins you a lot of positive affirmation," Gray told the group on Wednesday.

"If you respond to people in a timely way, it shows you value them," he added.

That practice formed one element of Gray's larger guidance on succeeding at Blackstone. Addressing interns gathered in New York and joining remotely, he stressed that achievement stems from blending intense effort, entrepreneurial initiative, and genuine consideration for others.

"You're giving huge effort, you're willing to take a little risk as an entrepreneur, but you're treating people in a nice way. To me, that's a winning formula," Gray said while attendees took notes.

Gray himself joined Blackstone at age 22, advanced through real estate investing, and was named president in 2018. Since then the firm has expanded sharply to more than 5,000 employees and $1.3 trillion in assets under management. This year it accepted fewer than 1 percent of intern applicants.

On the topic of hustle, Gray urged interns to "work harder and care more," noting that top performers consistently put in extra work such as deeper research or earlier arrivals.

Entrepreneurial thinking appears in many ways, he said, including using AI to improve reports. Every intern will encounter AI's role across nearly every investment area.

Gray clarified that kindness does not reduce ambition or standards and often improves results. Much of Blackstone's work, from fundraising to deal execution, is collaborative.

Looking beyond entry-level advice, Gray identified the trait he values most in future leaders: an "eye of the tiger, will to win."

"One quality above all else: it is that drive and hunger. There's just this sense that they want it," he said. That drive may come from competitive sports or being a first-generation American.

Both Gray and CEO Steve Schwarzman highlighted intellectual flexibility as essential at an entrepreneurial firm like Blackstone. "Things happen in the real world. You've got to be able to figure it out," Schwarzman told interns earlier.

Gray also cautioned against chasing trends and instead staying focused on Blackstone's core goal of generating returns for clients. He credited Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs with reinforcing this view, noting that great products alone can drive success.

"We are an investment firm, and we must deliver for our customers," Gray said. "Always focus on your core product. Don't forget that."