There are some who say it is his charisma that has fueled his success. Others assert that it’s his youthful enthusiasm and his fresh ideas. Regardless, the buzz around CNN political analyst and Stanford Law School graduate Carlos Watson is certainly hard to miss, and the former editor of the Stanford Law Review ascribes his achievements to his love of learning new things and a thirst for originality.

In addition to regularly contributing to various CNN programs, Watson hosts prime-time specials throughout the year during which he interviews celebrities and politicians on subjects outside their usual realm. In “Off Topic with Carlos Watson,” he has questioned Shaquille O’Neal about his post-retirement political plans, played video games with supermodel Heidi Klum and discussed music with Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.). Watson, a self-described “political junkie,” said the idea for the show sprouted from his longtime love of politics.

“I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be neat to have a show where you had a diverse number of guests and instead of them coming to you, you went out to them,’ ” he said in an interview with The Daily. “The show marries the best of some of the different genres and in some ways brings a youthful flair to it.”

Watson said it’s his vivacious delivery of political news that draws in viewers. “I thinks it’s important to deliver the information with some energy, with some dynamism,” he said. “And I think that people can tell that I have a real passion for news, a real passion for politics, current events and history.”

Watson, who attended Harvard as an undergraduate, attributes much of his success in the business, journalism and political world to the experiences he had at Stanford Law School. A self-described “curious and energetic student,”Watson, who lived in Crothers for three years, said he enjoyed the versatility Stanford offered through its interdisciplinary approach.

While in law school, he took business, education and language classes. He said this wide range of courses has helped him throughout his versatile career.

“I think having an interdisciplinary approach has prepared me to produce better work,” he said.

Watson added that he has benefited from the success stories of Stanford entrepreneurs such as David Packard and Excite co-founder Joe Kraus.

“Being here in Silicon Valley and hearing all those stories about Stanford graduates going out there and taking risks gave me a lot of inspiration,” he said. “I think what I’ve learned and gained from Stanford is a willingness to take a risk, a willingness to try something new, a willingness to try something a bit entrepreneurial.”

Shortly after graduating from the Law School in 1995, Watson began work at McKinsey & Company, a global strategic consulting firm. After two years, he left his job and co-founded Achieva College Prep Service, aimed at urban school districts. Achieva, which was based in Palo Alto, quickly became highly acclaimed in publications such as Forbes and Black Enterprise and blossomed into one of the leading educational forces in the country that helped high schools prepare students for college.

Watson sold Achieva to a publicly traded corporation in 2002 but remains very active in promoting education for underprivileged students in the Bay Area. He is currently on the board of directors for College Track, a program he co-founded that aids students in East Palo Alto and Oakland.

“Carlos has always had a passion for teenagers and young adults, which is one of the reasons why he co-founded College Track,” said Nicole Taylor, chief executive officer of the organization and also a Stanford graduate. She added that Watson frequently visits the students in the program and speaks about the opportunities that an education provides.

And few people would know the value of a good education better than Watson. Both of his parents are teachers and, although he was pulled out of kindergarten due to some mischievous behavior early on, he lauds his parents for keeping him on track.

“I certainly took from my parents a willingness to work extremely hard,” he said. “Both my parents always emphasized a willingness to go way above and beyond what is expected.”

And Watson’s hard work has paid off. He is currently being touted one of the contagious personalities in the industry.

After he sold Achieva, he appeared on many television interviews, which became his doorway to a television career of his own. Since then, he has worked for CNBC and CNN and has been a guest on a number of radio programs, including the Doug Banks Morning Show and The Tavis Smiley Show. His weekly political column, “The Inside Edge with Carlos Watson” is one CNN.com’s most popular features.

But even with all of his success, Watson has not forgotten his ties to the Stanford community. Many students said that they often see him at various basketball courts on campus, polishing the skills that helped his intramural team win the championship while he was in law school.

“I’m still tied to Stanford in lots of ways,” he said. “Stanford is where I made some of my best friendships.”

Watson advises current Stanford students to “learn as much off campus as [they] do on campus,” as well as to “have a well-rounded education.”

So what’s next for the law student who went on to become a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and is now making waves in the journalism industry?

Watson laughs at the question.

“You never really know,” he said.