Carl Pei, the founder and CEO of London-based digital startup Nothing, recently shared a candid story on LinkedIn about dropping out of the Stockholm School of Economics, one of Europe’s best business schools. In 2011, Pei took the difficult decision to abandon the traditional academic path, stating, “I realized the curriculum wasn’t pushing us to become the global business leaders of tomorrow and it felt too focused on outdated approaches.”
Pei agreed that dropping out is not the best option for most people, but he stressed the necessity of trusting one’s instincts. “While I wouldn’t advise 99 percent of people to drop out,” Pei added, “I believe passionately in the potential of independent thought.
Pei’s journey has been everything but typical. After graduating from college, he co-founded Nothing in 2020, a brand that has swiftly gained popularity in consumer electronics due to its emphasis on design, aesthetics, and a user-first experience. His view on dropping out depicts someone who is committed to thinking differently—someone who is willing to reject the commonplace in order to pursue something extraordinary.
“Independent thinking has always been at the core of everything I do,” Pei said. “I didn’t drop out just for the sake of it; I wanted to build something meaningful, something different.” Nothing, with its straightforward design ethos and aggressive approach to consumer technology, exemplifies that concept more.
Pei’s message is clear: success is not necessarily achieved by following a well-worn path. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that sometimes you have to establish your path if the existing ones just don’t lead where you want to go,” stated the man. His advice to prospective entrepreneurs and anyone looking towards making a name for themselves is straightforward: believe in yourself, question the standards, and don’t be scared to do things honestly.