Personally, I feel people make "great" CEO not specifically one group .
Why engineers make great CEOs
11–20 of 60 posts
Re: Why engineers make great CEOs
#12A high-profile counterpoint is RIM engineer and (former) CEO Mike Lazaridis. Even after seeing the Steve Jobs iPhone demo in 2007, his engineering and logical mindset was convinced that businesses would not adopt a device without a physical keyboard and that push email was more important than an apps ecosystem. He didn't see that the consumer engagement with iPhone was so compelling that the user would do an end run…
I personally would prefer the physical keyboard option, but we seem to have touch screens forced upon us. (I know there are a few models out there, but none were offered on the contract I asked for).
I am unable to answer the phone around 40% of the time (before the caller hangs up), due to the stupid swipe gesture I need to do. A physical green button was orders of magnitude more usable and reliable.
Re: Why engineers make great CEOs
#13A high-profile counterpoint is RIM engineer and (former) CEO Mike Lazaridis. Even after seeing the Steve Jobs iPhone demo in 2007, his engineering and logical mindset was convinced that businesses would not adopt a device without a physical keyboard and that push email was more important than an apps ecosystem. He didn't see that the consumer engagement with iPhone was so compelling that the user would do an end run…
I think that becoming an Apple follower was the misstep of RIM. RIM was the leader on the market of professional phones with keyboard. I am a geek, I need a phone with good keyboard and good battery life (big touch screens have a negative impact on battery).
Re: Why engineers make great CEOs
#14"the life of an engineer, it seems, is not as rosy as originally anticipated". Ok this affects me at the moment. Why? Because I have two incompetent bosses. Basically I have junior / intermediate level programmers telling me what to do (and getting paid more than me for it). They took the promotion for the money. I do the "smart" work and make the technical decisions (when they make technical decisions they are often…
> I do the "smart" work and make the technical decisions (when they make technical decisions they are often poor choices, basically from lack of experience).
I believe everyone thinks they're the only one smart, special snowflake.
Re: Why engineers make great CEOs
#15From all the great Engineers who've ever lived, the author couldn't think of anyone else but Thomas Edison, Henry Ford...
With all due respect, when I read "engineering's long and glorious history", I have other names in mind.
Re: Why engineers make great CEOs
#16Marc Andreessen at SS '11: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9phm2ae0Ss&feature=youtu.be...
"The engineer who can become an entrepreneur, who can then become a CEO... there's something magic about that formula"
Re: Why engineers make great CEOs
#17Perhaps this is not indicative of a rise of engineers who become interested in management, but individuals already interested in management (or are of that mindset) choosing to get a degree in engineering instead of Business. Given the tremendous value of an engineering degree, especially as a guaranteed high level of income, it makes sense practically minded managers would prefer such a safety net.
So, an engineer can perform managerial work with limited formal training... You seem to be implying that a business degree has little value.
Re: Why engineers make great CEOs
#18Perhaps this is not indicative of a rise of engineers who become interested in management, but individuals already interested in management (or are of that mindset) choosing to get a degree in engineering instead of Business. Given the tremendous value of an engineering degree, especially as a guaranteed high level of income, it makes sense practically minded managers would prefer such a safety net.
This is getting common in law as well, because patent law is lucrative, and having an engineering degree is an asset for practicing in that field. So people get an engineering degree not because they are really interested in engineering, but because it's a useful add-on to a lawyer's CV.
Re: Why engineers make great CEOs
#19"the life of an engineer, it seems, is not as rosy as originally anticipated". Ok this affects me at the moment. Why? Because I have two incompetent bosses. Basically I have junior / intermediate level programmers telling me what to do (and getting paid more than me for it). They took the promotion for the money. I do the "smart" work and make the technical decisions (when they make technical decisions they are often…
Companies that have any technical workers must have at least two promotion tracks: management and technical. It's downright stupid "promoting" someone into a position where their skills and affinity cannot be fully utilised.
Consolations.
Re: Why engineers make great CEOs
#20Except when they're not.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Roth_(businessman)
Roth was an engineer who oversaw stock schemes and false accounting such that he was able to completely wipe out the company. (Nortel was one of Canada's largest companies and now its gone)