I know it's crazy, but I want to be CEO of Yahoo. I think I could be the perfect guy to help focus the company and turn things around. And serendipitously, I happen to be looking for a new job right now. It's perfect.
I recently read a book called Do You Matter? which outlines how the design thinking process really needs to be embedded throughout all aspects of a company in order for it to really succeed these days. I definitely have a strong talent for doing this, having done it at both large and small companies over the last 15 years in areas as diverse as product definition, product development, customer support, and yes even operations and facilities. While I don't have an MBA, I have a lot of other things going for me.
I'm tall (6'3"), white, and I have great hair. I'm reasonably attractive, and while I don't currently play golf, I'd be more than willing to take it up. Plus, my compensation requirements are pretty reasonable. $250k base salary and no bonus. Options for 1% of the company. Oh, and I'd love a Tesla company car. That's it.
I have the distinct advantage of having worked at Yahoo for nearly three years, so I have good insight into how the company is run, and what needs to be fixed. It's no secret. I'll lay it all out here.
Yahoo is an advertising company first and foremost. It needs to focus on becoming the best damn internet advertising company out there. Period. Consumer sites and services are nice, and Yahoo has done them well, but they are secondary. Cut back to just the bare essentials that are both really popular and really profitable. This probably means divesting the search business. That's OK. Yahoo's been at it for many years now and is simply not making any progress here. Cut the losses and focus on something else. There is massive opportunity cost to continuing pouring money down that hole.
I can do this. I know what my strengths are. And I know where I'll need to surround myself with others who can help me with my weaknesses (finance, legal, etc). I really love the company and I want to see it succeed. So if you're on the CEO search team, give me a call. Give me a chance.
I recently read a book called Do You Matter? which outlines how the design thinking process really needs to be embedded throughout all aspects of a company in order for it to really succeed these days. I definitely have a strong talent for doing this, having done it at both large and small companies over the last 15 years in areas as diverse as product definition, product development, customer support, and yes even operations and facilities. While I don't have an MBA, I have a lot of other things going for me.
I'm tall (6'3"), white, and I have great hair. I'm reasonably attractive, and while I don't currently play golf, I'd be more than willing to take it up. Plus, my compensation requirements are pretty reasonable. $250k base salary and no bonus. Options for 1% of the company. Oh, and I'd love a Tesla company car. That's it.
I have the distinct advantage of having worked at Yahoo for nearly three years, so I have good insight into how the company is run, and what needs to be fixed. It's no secret. I'll lay it all out here.
Yahoo is an advertising company first and foremost. It needs to focus on becoming the best damn internet advertising company out there. Period. Consumer sites and services are nice, and Yahoo has done them well, but they are secondary. Cut back to just the bare essentials that are both really popular and really profitable. This probably means divesting the search business. That's OK. Yahoo's been at it for many years now and is simply not making any progress here. Cut the losses and focus on something else. There is massive opportunity cost to continuing pouring money down that hole.
I can do this. I know what my strengths are. And I know where I'll need to surround myself with others who can help me with my weaknesses (finance, legal, etc). I really love the company and I want to see it succeed. So if you're on the CEO search team, give me a call. Give me a chance.
"The British have learned that Microsoft recently sought significant quantities of executives from AOL and Fox Interactive."
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article5258258.ece
Posted by: bk | November 29, 2008 at 08:54 PM