Clarity of vision, social awareness, perseverance, and a desire to give back constitute the characters of great CEOs around the world
One can decidedly differentiate between an ordinary CEO and a great one. Great CEOs are exemplary visionaries, with superb managerial and leadership skills. They are admired by colleagues and common people alike, and are considered idols by millions of young leaders-to-be dreaming of making it big in the corporate world. Their greatness lies in the fact that they have not only created profitable enterprises; they have also created brands that are etched forever in the imagination of the consumers. So, what are the leadership principles and management philosophies that drive these icons and enable them to take their organizations to such stellar heightsIJ
Brad Feld, an American entrepreneur and venture capitalist said, “Don’t be afraid to have a big vision, but make sure it’s a clear one.” Clarity of vision is one of the main traits of great CEOs. let us take the example of Steve Jobs: An unconventional leader who demanded excellence from his staff and was controversial for his blunt delivery of criticism. However, his sheer genius, his amazing ability to articulate his vision, and his tendency to take his investors and customers with him on his journey made him an exceptional leader. Jobs had exceptional clarity of vision, and excelled at designing minimalist devices that broke barriers when it comes to computer speed. He created an ecosystem that could stand alone or work together in an interconnected way-like an iPod connected to a Mac connected to an iTunes store. Apple could manage vast amounts of information through division of labour among the systems. For example, the Mac controlled system administration while iTunes fetched content from cloud storage, freeing the device to concentrate on playing music. Bill Gates, listed as the richest person on this planet for 12 consecutive years, is also a man of colossal vision. He envisioned that every person on this planet would have a computer and every computer, a programme designed by Microsoft. Since then, he has worked tirelessly to achieve his vision. In this process, he has been instrumental to the IT revolution that the world has witnessed.
Great CEOs, apart from adding to the bottomline of the company, also contribute to society in a big way.It would be hard to talk about the life of Bill Gates and not discuss his philanthropy and humanitarianism. Heeding his mother's advice before she passed away due to breast cancer, Gates has always displayed a selfless approach to his leadership, spending considerable money and time in philanthropic efforts to give to others. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has donated billions of dollars to causes all over the world, making significant differences in the lives of children and adults. This process of giving back illustrates Gates' character, and his focus on social responsibility as a global corporate citizen. It also shows that his pursuit of solutions and making lives better goes beyond just making a profit. Instead, it is about driving significant change in the world, thus making a difference for those who need it most.Indra Nooyi, an iconic leader consistently ranked among the world’s 100 most powerful women, is, since 2006, the CEO of Pepsico, the world's second largest food and beverage company. Nooyi manages employee strength of 30,000 workers, and her company sells in around 200 countries. She believes in developing two balance sheets: one is to provide returns to shareholders, and the other is to provide returns to the environment. Under the leadership of Nooyi, Pepsico is focusing on people and the planet, in addition to profit. Nooyi has worked tirelessly to reduce the use of energy, water and packaging, and simultaneously to provide a great workplace for Pepsico’s employees and associates.Jobs’s primary motive was to feel as if he had made a solid and positive impact on the world during his lifetime. Since he had such high expectations set for himself, he was able to achieve excellence.
Great CEOs show that great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance. “It’s not where you start out in life that matters, but where you end up.” This adage fits Ursula Burns perfectly. Born in a poor neighbourhood of Manhattan to immigrant parents and raised by a single mother, she rose to become the first female African American CEO of a Fortune 500 company, Xerox. She also holds the honour of being the first woman to succeed another woman CEO, Anne Mulcahy. Having joined Xerox in 1980 as a mechanical engineering summer intern, Burns progressed through the corporate echelons to become the CEO from 2009 to 2016. At present, she is the Chairperson of Xerox. She did not use her underprivileged background as an excuse, instead persevering to reach the top of the corporate world. Burns worked hard to return Xerox to profitability. NR Narayan Murthy, a role model for every Indian, is an apt example of the adage ‘simple living, high thinking’. He is a billionaire with a net worth of about USD 1.8 bn, but still flies economy and drives around in a simple car. Murphy's life gives a strong message that world-class businesses can be created based on transparency and good governance.Born in a middle-class family in Sidlaghatta, Karnataka, the odds he faced in life were no match for Murphy's brilliance and enthusiasm. Through discipline and determination, NR Narayan Murthy created an Indian IT success story. Infosys, today, is one of the most respected IT companies in the world with footprints all across the globe, and is also the second largest IT company in India by revenue. One of the initial challenges faced by Murthy was his inability to take admission in the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), even after earning a high rank and a scholarship, as the scholarship was not enough to cover his studies. Since his father was unable to fund his education, he enrolled in a local engineering college but later secured admission in post graduation in IIT, by dint of hard work. Similarly, the failure of his first entrepreneurial venture, Softronics, did not deter him from going on to establish Infosys.Murthy follows the path of Mahatma Gandhi by practicing what he preaches. He has always led by example, and believes that the primary responsibility of a leader is to give hope and confidence in the face of adversity.
Taking care of people is one of the major attributes of great CEOs. Narayan Murthy has been most generous in rewarding employees with stock options. He has given away stocks worth Rs 50,000 crores to his employees, saying that performance should be rewarded suitably. In Infosys, drivers, electricians and secretaries walk amongst millionaires due to their stock options.Indra Nooyi is a caring, humane CEO who takes care of her employees by being in touch with them and understanding their concerns. She even writes thank-you letters to the parents of her employees in order to show her appreciation for the latter.Ken Chenault, CEO of American Express, believes in reaching out to each employee of the organisation. He makes it a point to reply to each and every email he receives from any of his employees. He travels around the world to meet employees at different locations around the globe.To further connect personally with his staff, he runs an open operation where anyone can talk to him.
Great CEOs, because of their innate quality of perseverance and their contribution to society, ensure the stability and growth of their organisations. They live by their principles and lead by example, making them exemplary leaders of the corporate world.
(The writer is Assistant Professor, Amity University)