One big advantage a founder CEO has over appointed ones: the founder CEO can have a thesis about the identity of the company that's used to guide decisions. An appointed CEO can inherit such a thesis, but can rarely invent one.
Show this thread
-
Inheriting a thesis is a poor substitute for inventing one, because the thesis of a successful startup usually grows organically out of the founders' personalities and experiences. The appointed CEO is at best wearing someone else's clothes.
Show this thread
Exception: An appointed CEO who had a similar personality and experiences (e.g. from having worked together) to the founding CEO could presumably assimilate the thesis.
-
-
Companies often turn out to work in ways the founders never intended. Similarly, a founder's vision of the company can be out of touch with what it has become. A new CEO can provide an opportunity to bring the two into alignment.
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
-
-
@paulg, what are the best instances of ‘thesis’ assimilation you’ve seen, and what did they have in common?Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
-
-
Could anyone of similar ilk have taken Steve Jobs’ role and assimilated his thesis? Tim Cook took the reigns and grew Apple but it was already firmly established at that point and the difference in innovation is glaring.
-
Is there anyone of similar ilk? Even in Silicon Valley he was a one-off.
- Show replies
New conversation -
-
-
Another exception can be when a company goes through an extinction-level crisis, where a new CEO is brought in to revive the company, and thus has free reign to recreate the entire culture.
-
Like
@satyanadella did on@Microsoft
End of conversation
New conversation -
-
-
Examples?
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
-
-
As an appointed CEO, it's about treating the company just as if you founded it yourself. It's just a mindset.
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
-
-
Another possible exception: an appointed CEO may in some cases have a more ambitious vision for the company that the founding CEO doesn’t clearly see. Elon comes to mind, and is widely regarded as the founder now.
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
-
-
What are some priorities that an ‘appointed CEO’ should have that might be relevant across different markets/roles?
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.