What does it take to become a CEO?

<p>I know this sounds dumb and that there is 'no' straightforward way to becoming a top executive in a company,
but hey, what majors, studies, and what kind of college experience would help one the most to become one?
Does a business major really help you in real life?</p>

<p>Butt kissing.</p>

<p>what's the difference between a butt kisser and a $h!thead?</p>

<p>Depth perception... :lol:</p>

<p>Many of them worked their way through college and came from average backgrounds..</p>

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Many of them worked their way through college and came from average backgrounds..

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<p>Yup. That's my dad's story. He became a CPA and a lawyer as well.</p>

<p>a lot of ceos are engineering majors</p>

<p>Has anyone noticed that CEO's often look like, well, CEO's? I'm fairly sure genetics is a major component. So if you're tall, fit, come from a line of distinguished looking men and will grey at the temples by 45, you're halfway there.</p>

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So if you're tall, fit, come from a line of distinguished looking men and will grey at the temples by 45, you're halfway there.

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<p>Doesn't fit my dad's profile at all, actually.</p>

<p>time and money and real balls will help</p>

<p>lol...... not exactly what i expected to hear</p>

<p>To say you want to become a CEO is a very bold and daring statement. In my opinion being the ****** bag and CC student I am I would say anything is possible! BUT you need to know the playing field inside and out, most importantly who your competing with and what there status is. If you want to be a CEO you need to be trained at the BEST facilities; Columbia, Wharton, MIT, Harvard, ..etc.etc. Warren Buffet was a Columbia undergrad once and his mentor was Benjamin Graham one of the first investors of our time. Just know this you have to be ready to make yourself the best and stand out from those 1,000,000 other CEO AND BILLIONARE wannabes out there.</p>

<p>
[quote]
If you want to be a CEO you need to be trained at the BEST facilities; Columbia, Wharton, MIT, Harvard, ..etc.etc. Warren Buffet was a Columbia undergrad once and his mentor was Benjamin Graham one of the first investors of our time. Just know this you have to be ready to make yourself the best and stand out from those 1,000,000 other CEO AND BILLIONARE wannabes out there.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>My dad went to Temple.</p>

<p>Start your own company and grow it.</p>

<ol>
<li>Be very creative/bold and start your own company</li>
<li>Come from an average background, start working hard at a company and work your way up over time.</li>
<li>Go to a prestigious school and make lots of connections and be brought in new after showing great success in other areas.</li>
</ol>

<p>there is an ongoing debate about whether to major in business/engineering/a liberal arts as an undergrad. Personally, I am rather torn between the three. A Business or engineering major might seem the most straightforward, but many of the characteristics of a successful CEO fit in with the liberal arts- e.g. possessing a basic knowledge of almost every field, being able to lead well.
These skills of course can be learned without the major. </p>

<p>what are your thoughts?</p>

<p>If you think your typical liberal arts major has even an inkling of an engineer does than you are sadly mistaken. I think your thoughts that a liberal arts major posses a basic knowledge of almost every field is a bad assumption. They may have basic knowledge of every field you might teach a 3rd grader, but for a CEO level?</p>

<p>Yes, a well rounded education isn’t taught in school. So, if I were hiring a CEO, I would look for someone who tackled a tough degree in school, and look for the breadth of knowledge in the interview, knowing that they are capable of reaching great depths within any knowledge base.</p>

<p>My observation tells me that a lot of CEOs are finance guys. Engineers are good at the quant stuff, as are accountants and economist. This doesn’t mean that they all make great CEOs. However, there are fewer History majors running companies, like Palmisano, than there are other degreed individuals. So, if you want to increase your odds what would you do?</p>

<p>From what I’ve heard, a lot of accountants become CFOs, and a lot of CFOs can eventually become CEOs. Therefore, by transitive property, accountants often become CEOs ;)</p>

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<p>Most undergrads don’t know much of anything about anything, regardless of their major. Undergraduate degrees help people land entry level positions, and not much else.</p>

<p>Nobody cares about your dad diontechristmas.</p>

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<p>Go tuck yourself.</p>