How did Sundar rise so quickly to become Google's CEO?
I was reading a bit about Sundar Pichai today and apparently he only joined Google around 2004 as a regular product manager. So he wasn't even a particularly early employee and he only joined after Google was already well established and about to IPO. He also doesn't really have much of a comp sci or entrepreneurial background either and he was originally just some consultant who studied metallurgy in college. But somehow in only 10 years by around 2015 he was able to become CEO of the whole company. As far as I can tell, his only sort of meaningful achievement before becoming CEO was working on Chrome but even then he was only one of many people who contributed to that project. It wasn't like he was the one who conceived and masterminded the whole project by himself or anything. Given how especially back then Google was supposed to be renown for all the super smart people who worked there, I'm sure there were plenty of other ambitious employees who had even more tenure and accomplishments than Sundar. So I'm really curious if anybody has any insight to how Sundar was able to beat out all the other candidates and claim the CEO spot? Like it seems the prevailing sentiment these days is that he's a pretty uninspiring, unimaginative, almost rest and vest sort of leader. Was he somehow very different before becoming CEO? It just seems very strange that somebody like him was able to get this job and be so successful.
I would love to know the answer too. I have been curious about this. Hope someone can provide thoughtful input
The fact that people with strong soft skills and avg hard skills/foresight getting promoted more nowadays predicts the doom of many tech companies. Just wait and see the end result when everyone is trying to learn to play the game and think this is okay
He's IIT. He's not average hard skills lol (I am not Indian btw)
Excellent post. I was under the impression that he masterminded chrome. Surprised to hear that he didn’t.
he obvs didnt with that brain
Following. Also looks like Google hasn’t been doing great under him
Exactly. Almost everyone I've talked to who works at Google is pretty negative about Sundar. Like I really haven't heard any real praise, so I'm really curious how the heck he even got to where he is.
What metrics are you using in determining that? Market share? Stock price? Or click bait media that want to earn some bucks out of you fools? Remember when Zuck was constantly targeted by click bait media until the stock price stabilized?
Indian CEO is a trend for established tech empire u don’t know; count famous startups that became worldwide they created instead
Sure but how did it end up being this particular Indian dude. Like look at Microsoft, I can understand how Satya probably was able to prove himself and stand out with his business shrewdness. But Sundar is a complete head scratcher
I don’t think Google would choose someone as CEO because they are Indian lol
I smell jealousy! Cry some more!
No, I will never want to be CEO. I had many near death accidents to realize that I love my time. There's no jelly. Also, I'm not criticizing Indians here. They strive for what they want. They realize the value of opportunities. Most people come from middle income households. They lack network, language, money in the US yet they believe they can win. I admire that.
https://www.productplan.com/learn/sundar-pichai-product-manager-to-ceo/ https://www.productplan.com/learn/sundar-pichai-product-manager-to-ceo/ It sounds like he executed well on Chrome as a PM, and then that led to some expanded responsibilities for him where he continued to perform well. Then some Android people left and he luckily was able to take over those responsibilities as well and was basically on the frontlines with Microsoft/Apple So he had a lot of responsibility managing core google products and once the alphabet split happened he was the choice Idk how helpful that was I just paraphrased the article lol
The inly real answer is he is good but also super lucky. 100% super political
Indian managers focus on reporting. They know what to present and to whom. Execs love well presented data more than actual results. No wonder Google is going down a shithole under him.
Hardwork + execution + right people + right time + right place + rightly played politics There is no formula. People tend to misunderstand how much role your luck, people and the timing plays in your life than your smartness. Sundar is not the smartest guy in google. FYI: my father was his batchmate in university.
Have leadership (in this case Larry Page himself) notice you and actively mentor you by giving you opportunities. Also execute on those opportunities
Response is too vague
The same thing happened to Charles Lamana at MSFT. Someone on the c suite took a liking to him and he went from software engineer to CVP (sr executive) in like 10 years.