History
fathers today and the future. Today we briefly look at the lives
of some common names that relate to popular business people or organizations. Contrary
to popular interests expressed by previous writers, the intent here is to dig a
little into their early lives noting any unique features they might have had
while growing up. The list does not follow any order, neither does it claim
superiority of those included over the other millions of innovative
entrepreneurs across the globe that have not been mentioned. Generally, you will
realize either each of the ones included or the companies they represent are
common on the internet.
Larry
Page- Co-Founder and CEO Google
He
was born in 1973. His father, Carl Vincent Page was a computer science
professor at Michigan State University while his mother Gloria was a
computer-programming instructor. Though his mother was Jewish, Page was not
raised under the confines of any religious beliefs. Notably, he became
interested in computers at the age of six and played around with the ‘first-generation computers’ that his parents had left. Amazingly, he was the first
pupil in his elementary school to use a word processor for assignments. His
older brother told him how to take computer things apart and in an interview,
he once conceded that he always had that desire to invent something in him. He holds a
degree with honors in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan and a
master in computer science from Stanford University.
Sir
Richard Branson- Virgin Group
In
2014, Forbes reported Branson as the seventh richest citizen of the U.K. He was
born in 1950 as the eldest of three children. His father was a lawyer and his
mother a former ballet dancer and an air hostess. As a student, he had such a
poor performance in class that on his last day at school his headmaster boldly
predicted that he would either end up in prison or be a millionaire straight
to Branson’s face. He made his first business venture at the age of sixteen
that was a magazine called the student. He also had a record business from a
church crypt alongside the student magazine. He interviewed prominent
personalities and advertised these records in The Student magazine. He traded the records under the name Virgin
and his recording business was an overnight success. In 1984, he started Virgin
Atlantic Airways, then in 1999 begun the Virgin Mobile and Virgin Blue that is
today called Virgin Australia.
Virginia
Rometty “Ginni”- CEO IBM
Born
in 1957, Ginni has been named in the Fortune Magazine for eight consecutive
years among the “50 Most Powerful Women in Business”. The Forbes magazine
ranked her tenth among the “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” in 2014. She graduated
in 1979 and went to work with General Motors Institute. She has a bachelor’s with
high honors in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from Robert R.
McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science at Northwestern University.
When, in 2011, IBM pronounced her as its next president and CEO, Sam Palmisano
the CEO who had just stepped down stated this regarding her,
“Ginni
got it because she deserved it!”
Marissa
Mayer- Yahoo
Marissa
Ann Mayer born in 1975 is the current CEO of Yahoo. She assumed the position
after moving from Google where she had worked as an executive and a key
spokesperson. She was born to Michael Mayer who was an Environmental Engineer
and Margaret Mayer who was an art teacher. She took piano and ballet lessons
that one may say helped her overcome the shyness she had as a child. She
intended to pursue Pediatric neurosurgeon but upon joining Stanford University
changed her major to symbolic systems. She danced in the University’s ballet
‘Nutcracker’. She graduated in 1997 with honors in B.S from Stanford University
and in 1999 graduated in Computer Science. For both degrees, she had
specialized in artificial intelligence. After graduating in 1999, she worked
with Google since then until 2011 before joining Yahoo as a CEO in 2012
Warren Buffet- Berkshire Hathaway
Born
in 1930, Buffet was named the most successful investor of the 20th
century. He is the Chairman, CEO and largest shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway.
In 2011, he was ranked the world’s third wealthiest individual. Notably, he is
a philanthropist and pledged to give away 99% of his wealth for philanthropist
causes through the gates foundation. He was born second to a Howard buffet a
Congressman and Leila. Buffet sold weekly magazines, chewing gum, and Coca-Cola
from door to door. In 1945 while still in high school Buffet and a friend
bought a pinball machine that they placed in a local barbershop. He holds a
Bachelor of Science in Business administration from the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln and a Master of Science in Economics from Columbia. In
addition, Buffet attended the New York Institute of Finance.
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