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Hennessy was an incredible steward at Stanford, and I'm 100% sure that he will be a difference maker at Alphabet. I don't see him taking the position if he did

Hennessy was an incredible steward at Stanford, and I'm 100% sure that he will be a difference maker at Alphabet. I don't see him taking the position if he didn't have an incredible vision for the future that he could drive. The intro to this video talks a bit about his accomplishments as president. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApTQ1bfKXyY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApTQ1bfKXyY This video is probably more in line with the interests of the community here (Stanford Seminar - Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders: John Hennessy of Stanford University): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB3oAg0wuYg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB3oAg0wuYg I was in the audience when he announced the launching of the Knight-Hennessey scholarship. It was an incredible speech. He was always an incredible fundraiser, but putting together a $750M fully endowed scholarship program is a heck of a way to say goodbye to the university.

thomasahle 9y ago
> I don't see him taking the position if he didn't have an incredible vision for the future that he could drive. How much influence does a chairman really have on the the vision though? Isn't that more of the CEO's business? I suppose the board picks the CEO, but that spot doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon.
- fsloth 9y ago
  "How much influence does a chairman really have on the the vision though? Isn't that more of the CEO's business?" In an ideal situation the chairman can function as the intellectual sparring partner of the CEO. Not many can do that, as some things cannot be discussed outside of the company personnel, and going downwards in the chain of command always has this gradient of authority which can function as an intellectual inhibitor.
  - walshemj 9y ago
    The Chair also acts in the last resort to sack the CEO if the company is going off the rails - soothing which the Chair at HP should have done a few years ago.

thomasahle 9y ago

> I don't see him taking the position if he didn't have an incredible vision for the future that he could drive. How much influence does a chairman really have on the the vision though? Isn't that more of the CEO's business? I suppose the board picks the CEO, but that spot doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon.

fsloth 9y ago
"How much influence does a chairman really have on the the vision though? Isn't that more of the CEO's business?" In an ideal situation the chairman can function as the intellectual sparring partner of the CEO. Not many can do that, as some things cannot be discussed outside of the company personnel, and going downwards in the chain of command always has this gradient of authority which can function as an intellectual inhibitor.
- walshemj 9y ago
  The Chair also acts in the last resort to sack the CEO if the company is going off the rails - soothing which the Chair at HP should have done a few years ago.