Editors' Note:
In working with CEOs, some of whom are also founders, executives whose next step is to be CEO, as well as with young people who desire to found a company some day, Ueng has accumulated learnings of steps it takes to become an effective CEO and traits of effective CEOs. She recently interviewed noted Triangle CEOs to share their wisdom for Work & Money readers.
After graduating from Duke Law School, Frey went on to advise clients where he had the opportunity to work closely with dozens of CEOs and see them " in action and under pressure". He realized that decisions that needed to be made in a legal context are derived from a larger strategic plan.
Frey's advice to those who want to become a CEO is that certainly one can do the traditional things like "reading books about management and getting an MBA". Equally important is "finding ways to interact with the person who has that responsibility and watch everything they do - how they act at dinner, how they deal with everything they do ...how they present themselves and communicate. The more opportunities one has to be an observer, the richer the wellspring of resources will be."
Whitehurst, who overlapped with Replogle at both Harvard Business School and the Boston Consulting Group, an internationally renowned strategic consultancy, smiled and said that while skill is required, "a lot of luck - being at the right place at the right time" is also part of the equation.
He encourages those aspiring to be CEO to make your own luck: Excel in what you are doing and do work that you love so you will inspire people. Do look around for opportunities. Ensure that you are the needle in the haystack that sticks out just a bit more so will be grabbed. Work on cross - functional projects - know everything about your business, not just your function.
This is what he did at Delta where he rose to COO. He believes that intellectual curiosity and visibility are key contributors that have made him successful.
Comments