Jeff Immelt, former CEO of General Electric and current venture partner at New Enterprise Associates, shares insights from his 16-year tenure at GE. He reflects on navigating crises like 9/11 and the financial meltdown, emphasizing resilience and adaptability in leadership. Immelt discusses the complexities of decision-making under pressure and the importance of transparency and communication. He also explores the dynamics between CEOs and shareholders and the significance of team loyalty, offering valuable lessons for future leaders.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Crisis Leadership
Absorb fear and avoid blame during crises.
Communicate effectively and observe who remains steadfast.
insights INSIGHT
Risk Management
Effective risk management focuses on a few key enterprise risks, not a laundry list.
CEOs should personally address these risks to demonstrate accountability.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Maintaining Stability
Maintain routines, like exercise, during crises for stability.
Project forward momentum by continuing schedules and engaging with employees.
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In 'Hot Seat', Jeff Immelt shares the hard-won lessons he learned leading General Electric through significant crises, including the aftermath of 9/11 and the 2008–09 financial crisis. Immelt reflects on his efforts to transform GE into a more global, technological, and diverse company, despite facing numerous challenges and criticism. The book offers insights into leadership, decision-making, and perseverance in turbulent times.
Former General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt looks back on his two decades with the company and the strategies he used to lead during three separate crises. In this episode, Immelt discusses what happened during those events and why, what it was like to take over for GM icon Jack Welch, getting the information you need to make decisions, activist investors, fighting complexity, the mismatched timelines between CEOs and shareholders, unions, and so much more.
Immelt is currently a venture partner at New Enterprise Associates and a lecturer in management at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. He served as the Chairman and CEO of GE from 2001-17, and is the author of the 2021 memoir Hot Seat: What I Learned Leading a Great American Company.
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