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Nice Guys Can Finish First

Marshall Goldsmith

Who would you rather have as a CFO? And not many people remember that Jack Welch has a PhD in chemical engineering. All other things being equal, your people skills (or lack thereof) become more pronounced the higher up you go. Or a brilliant accountant who’s inept with outsiders and alienates all the smart people under him?

Chemicals 133
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Dealing With Investors the Sam Palmisano Way

Harvard Business Review

Last fall, when it was still not clear who would be the next chief executive of Microsoft, Jack Welch recommended Sam Palmisano for the job.

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People Skills

Marshall Goldsmith

You don’t get to be the CFO without knowing how to count, how to read a balance sheet, and how to handle money prudently. Who would you rather have as a CFO? Jack Welch has a Ph.D. At the higher levels, all the leading players are technically skilled, smart, and up-to-date on the technical aspects of their job.

Skills 114
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People Skills

Marshall Goldsmith

You don't get to be the CFO without knowing how to count, how to read a balance sheet, and how to handle money prudently. Who would you rather have as a CFO? Jack Welch has a Ph.D. At the higher levels, all the leading players are technically skilled, smart, and up-to-date on the technical aspects of their job.

Skills 123
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As Work Changes, Leadership Development Has to Keep Up

Harvard Business Review

Voser took a detour to be CFO for ABB from 2002 to 2004 and then returned to Shell to become CEO in 2009. Welch Leadership Center at Crotonville where leaders from other organizations (e.g., Voser was impatient for a new experience which attracted him to ABB and there he learned a whole new level of turnaround leadership.