HP CEO Meg Whitman on Integrity & Courage in Leadership

Transcript

[MUSIC] Meg, thank you for being here to day. >> Yeah, happy to be here. >> I'm delighted at the chance to have this conversation. I have a few questions here on your professional journey, your leadership philosophy and your personal life before we open it up to questions from the audience and Twitter. As Jim Solano mentioned, you were being incred... Read More

Summary

In this video, Meg Whitman, former CEO of HP and eBay, discusses her professional journey, leadership philosophy, and personal life. She shares insights about taking on the role of CEO at HP, understanding what was going right at the company, and the key factors that contributed to her success. She also talks about her experience in politics and the lessons she learned from running for governor of California. Whitman offers advice on building a personal brand and balancing two successful careers in a family.

Questions & Answers

Q: What made you decide to take on the role of CEO at HP?

After losing a race for governor, I found myself with no plans and was offered a position on the board of HP. I saw the opportunity to make a contribution to reviving the company and its place in Silicon Valley. As a seasoned CEO, I had the advantage of experience and understanding how things worked, which helped me navigate the challenges at HP.

Q: What was going right at HP and what had to be fixed?

Despite the challenges, HP still had its founder DNA in place. It was an engineering innovation company and had a collaborative culture. Additionally, the company had a strong commitment to social responsibility. However, there were issues like a jaded workforce, misaligned cost structure, and a lack of focus on innovation that needed to be addressed.

Q: How did you go about fixing the issues at HP?

The first priority was winning the hearts and minds of HP employees and getting them to believe in the future of the company. We also had to align our cost structure with the revenue trajectory and focus on innovation. Other challenges included dealing with specific issues like the EDS write-down and the autonomy situation, as well as clarifying HP's strategy.

Q: What was the biggest advantage you had as CEO of HP?

Being a seasoned CEO with previous experience allowed me to navigate the challenges at HP more effectively. If this had been my first time as a CEO, I might have been completely overwhelmed. Understanding how things worked, including Wall Street dynamics, gave me an advantage in leading the company.

Q: What led you to join eBay and what convinced you of its potential?

Initially, I was not fully convinced about the eBay opportunity and turned it down. However, after spending a day with the founders and seeing the potential for people to make connections and trade without regard to time and distance, I realized the significance of the platform. eBay enabled people to do something meaningful that they could not do before, such as connecting with others who shared their interests or collecting items from across the globe.

Q: What advice would you give to someone transitioning into leadership positions in technology without much experience in the field?

Business principles apply regardless of the industry, but in technology, it is important to either develop a deep understanding of the field or surround yourself with people who have that expertise. Technology requires the ability to see around corners and anticipate what is coming next. It is also important to ask questions and not pretend to know everything. Being authentic and leveraging your strengths are essential.

Q: How did you think about building a personal brand throughout your career?

I didn't think much about building a personal brand, but rather focused on doing the best job I could. Being authentic and doing what you are asked to do, even if it seems trivial, can contribute to building a strong personal brand. Recognizing your strengths, what you love to do, and doubling down on those areas can also help shape your personal brand.

Q: How do you balance two successful careers in a family?

It is challenging but doable. Making trade-offs and prioritizing what is most important is key. Communication and support from your spouse or partner are crucial. The focus should be on doing the best you can in both your career and your family life, recognizing that there will always be trade-offs.

Q: How do you decide when you have trade-offs?

The most important things should take priority. For me, it has been focusing on my job and my family. Making time for dinner together during weekdays and spending weekends as a family has helped strike a balance. It's important to accept that there are no perfect solutions and to make decisions based on what is most important in the moment.

Q: What led you to run for political office and what did you learn from it?

I was always interested in politics and saw the challenges that California was facing in terms of budget deficits and education. I believed I could make a difference and be an example of citizen democracy. Running for political office is much more difficult than being in business, as the results are not as clear and there are many political and media factors that come into play. It taught me the importance of perseverance, resilience, and recognizing the value of experience.

Takeaways

Meg Whitman shares her insights and experiences from her professional journey as a CEO in the technology industry and her foray into politics. Some key takeaways from this video include the importance of understanding what is going right in an organization, focusing on your strengths and being authentic in building a personal brand, making trade-offs and prioritizing in balancing multiple successful careers, and recognizing the challenges and valuable lessons from running for political office. Ultimately, success in both business and personal life comes down to perseverance, adaptability, and a willingness to take risks.