strategic consultant to:  

 ~ serial CEOs & CTOs in software, Internet, technology & digital media
~ experienced consultants in all fields to maximize their practices

10 characteristics of a successful CEO

Jun 1, 2010

During my 25 years working with early stage technology CEOs, I have found myself referring to the make it- or break-it characteristics that lead a CEO to succeed or fail, separate from market conditions, capital conditions and other external factors, many of which...

Characteristic #1 of a successful CEO: domain expertise

Jun 1, 2010

Of all the characteristics of success for CEOs, the most critical is their domain expertise –whether it is technology, retail, green/clean or bio-tech.  And that domain expertise should be specific to the product being built or the service being offered —...

10 Characteristics of a Successful CEO: #3 Financial savvy

Jun 1, 2010

We live in a capitalist society. We build businesses. For all the adjacent reasons to build a business – inventing the next new thing, changing the world, advancing humankind – a business must make money, create profit, and keep growing (or at least bettering) itself....

10 Characteristics of a Successful CEO: #5 Honor

Jun 1, 2010

Folks don’t talk directly about “honor” anymore, not out loud, except perhaps in the military. It isn’t common language. But honor plays a part in every interaction, and is the basis for our enduring reputation in our community. Perhaps the concept closest to honor is...

10 Characteristics of a Successful CEO: #6 Realism

Jun 1, 2010

“An entrepreneur is someone who has lost one, won one, and started at third company,” I said once to my new client. “I’ve lost two and started a third, does that count?” (yes, that counts.) There are dreamers and doers. The first-time entrepreneur could be either...

10 Characteristics of a Successful CEO: #7 Perseverance

Jun 1, 2010

Perseverance for the technology entrepreneur is tricky ~ you must sustain your energy and your vision, but adapt to a fast changing market without losing ground on what you have created. And this condition persists throughout the life of your company and career. So...

10 Characteristics of a Successful CEO: #8 ~ Patience

Jun 1, 2010

In our fast-moving world of sound bites, information overwhelm, time-shifting and 24/7 availability, it is rare for a CEO to hear any advice that includes having patience. But you must have it, and the capital to sustain it, or your company will fail. You don’t have...