No-Nonsense Insight on Leadership, Management and Business Strategy
Our #FollowFriday-Worthy recommendation this week is Steve Tobak who writes “The Corner Office” for The CBS Business Network – BNET, a top-10 Internet business site.
In addition to being a keen writer on the many issues facing CEOs, their boards and management teams, Steve is also the managing partner at Invisor Consulting, a firm that provides business strategy, executive coaching, and speaking services to CEOs and management teams of small and mid-sized technology companies.
A Blast From My Past (No, not like that)
Weeks ago, I was forwarded an article after confiding to a friend of my anxiety prior to a C-Level meeting. It was entitled, “How to Be a Great Storyteller and Win Over Any Audience.” When I discovered that Steve had written it, I couldn’t believe my eyes!
I had known Steve for almost 20 years but we lost contact when I left National Semiconductor in the late 90s. After I immediately scoped out the wealth of information he has shared through his blogs, I was tickled to see that his no-nonsense style of management, without pretense or fluff, hasn’t changed over the years. (You gotta love the New Yorker in him!) His articles are succinct and direct-to-the-point — very effective.
It is apparent that Steve writes and shares his experience from his days as part of Silicon Valley’s elite group of top executives. I found him writing about business strategies and ideas to help his readers improve their management and leadership style.
Lessons learned as a semiconductor design engineer, vice president of marketing at major technology corporations and all the way to his brief CEO stint, are shed in different lights and angles, expressing how things can be viewed and executed from the top level.
We easily forget the many things we learn over the years. That’s why Steve’s fresh take on “executive-dom” will always give you something to drive home with.
Get to Know Steve
I got a hold of Steve to reconnect hoping he’d remember me from years ago. I didn’t have to worry. It was like we had never been out of touch; it was as if we had just shared a pint of beer at CeBIT the night before.
And as expected, Steve is always willing to share his personal perspective:
Laughs at: Inappropriate times
Hopes: My wife, literary agent, accountant, and hedge fund manager stick around (in that order)
Thinks: Political correctness is a disease, partying is a choice, and life is good.
Reveals: There are six living things in the room right now and only two are human.
Dream Coffee Date: Hmm … Michael Lewis (Liar’s Poker) or Sandra Bullock (yes, 50% of me is that shallow)
Is Inspired By: Leaders with the courage to be genuine and the humility to admit they’re human
I am happy to find a long lost friend, whose goof and spunk always put me in stitches. Moreover, I am happy to find a former marketing mentor who always whipped me in shape – no BS here.
For those who appreciate knowing what it takes to be an exceptional business executive, I guarantee you will find tons of wisdom from this guy.
Who’s your #FollowFriday recommendation today? Please post them in the comments below.
You can follow Steve Tobak on Twitter at: @SteveTobak
Visit his “The Corner Office” Blog at: http://www.bnet.com/blog/ceo
Or at Invisor Consulting at: http://www.invisor.net
Liz Estrella-Basilio is Elena Verlee’s San Francisco partner at Cross Border Communications. Together they work with start-up to multi-million dollar technology companies who want to get their story heard in traditional, digital and social media.
She recently revived her Twitter account and will be out on the prowl to find those who are truly #FollowFriday-worthy on Twitter. Follow her at @lizestrellab.
Elena is founder of a technology PR agency that works with startups to billion-dollar companies. She is passionate about helping marketers and small business owners with practical publicity strategies.
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