Queen’s University became a pivotal starting point for Elon Musk’s academic and social journey when he enrolled in 1990, searching for an environment that balanced intellectual rigor with meaningful connections. Unlike the technical focus of the University of Waterloo, Queen’s offered a broader curriculum, where Musk could explore both business and engineering while engaging in social activities. Living in an international-themed dormitory, he quickly befriended Navaid Farooq, marking his first close friendship outside his family and sparking discussions on topics ranging from computer games to science fiction.

Academically, Musk excelled in subjects like Business, Economics, Calculus, and Computer Programming, areas that would later become essential in his entrepreneurial ventures. However, his performance in Accounting, Spanish, and Industrial Relations was less stellar, earning him B grades in these subjects. Despite this, he found immense value in the collaborative and Socratic teaching methods at Queen’s, which encouraged open dialogue and problem-solving—skills that would serve him well in his future leadership roles.

Musk’s love for intellectual challenges extended beyond the classroom, manifesting in his deep fascination with strategy games like Diplomacy and Civilization. These games allowed him to refine his negotiation skills, long-term planning, and tactical thinking, mirroring the strategic mindset he would later employ in business. His ability to reverse-engineer game logic for competitive advantage demonstrated an analytical sharpness that would prove invaluable in his entrepreneurial problem-solving.

Beyond academics and games, Musk and his brother Kimbal displayed remarkable initiative in building professional connections. They cold-called influential figures from newspaper articles, seeking mentorship and career advice, an unconventional yet effective networking strategy. This persistence paid off when they secured a meeting with Peter Nicholson, a top executive at Scotiabank, leading to Elon landing a summer internship in strategic planning—his first direct exposure to corporate decision-making.

The internship with Nicholson was more than just a summer job; it was an early lesson in the complexities of business strategy and finance. Musk observed firsthand how high-level executives analyzed economic trends, made decisions, and structured long-term plans, insights that would later shape his own approach to building companies. This experience reinforced his belief in proactive learning and seeking opportunities beyond conventional academic pathways.

While Queen’s provided Musk with an engaging learning environment, his ambitions stretched beyond the university’s offerings. His curiosity and drive to solve bigger problems led him to explore subjects far beyond his coursework, often engaging in deep discussions about technology, space, and artificial intelligence. These intellectual explorations hinted at his future endeavors, where he would merge scientific curiosity with ambitious business goals.

Even socially, Musk approached relationships with a level of strategic thinking, forming bonds with individuals who shared his passion for ideas and problem-solving. He gravitated toward communities that valued deep discussions, which allowed him to sharpen his critical thinking and broaden his perspective. His ability to integrate academic learning, strategic networking, and intellectual curiosity set the foundation for his later successes.

Musk’s time at Queen’s was marked by a blend of academic achievement, social exploration, and the early application of his entrepreneurial instincts. Whether through mastering strategic games, networking with influential figures, or excelling in subjects that later became crucial to his businesses, he was already shaping the mindset that would define his career. His experience at Queen’s reinforced the idea that success was not just about academic performance but about taking initiative, thinking ahead, and leveraging opportunities to build something greater.

By the time he left Queen’s for the University of Pennsylvania, Musk had already cultivated many of the qualities that would later define his ventures: relentless curiosity, strategic foresight, and the ability to seize opportunities. His journey at Queen’s was more than just a stepping stone—it was a formative period where he learned to navigate complex challenges, develop critical skills, and build relationships that would influence his future path. Looking back, it is clear that his time at Queen’s was not just about education but about laying the foundation for a life driven by innovation, strategy, and calculated risk-taking.