article thumbnail

To Be Number One, Get the Right Number Two

Harvard Business Review

Presidential elections, the choice of a running mate can influence voter views of the candidate and shift the dialogue, as happened following Mitt Romney's naming of conservative budget-chopping congressman Paul Ryan as his vice presidential pick in the race for the White House. Even the greatest leaders sometimes fumble this factor.

COO 15
article thumbnail

When an Activist Hedge Fund Thinks a Company’s Salaries Are Too High, Who’s Right?

Harvard Business Review

The company, founded in 1996 by an engineer from Xerox’s legendary Palo Alto Research Center , Pradeep Sindhu (who remains its chief technology officer and vice chairman), was one of the highest flyers of the fin de siècle tech stock boom. attempt to change the leadership and strategic direction of the company.

Hedge 8