
Why Skills-First Leadership Is Replacing the Ivy League Playbook in the C-Suite
The old prestige pyramid—where Ivy League degrees and blue-chip consulting backgrounds paved the way to the CEO seat—is cracking.
June 5, 2023: Elon Musk is the wealthiest individual in the world, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index’s revised figures on Thursday.
The Tesla CEO caught his fortune bounce 40.3% this year to $192 billion after shares of the electric car maker increased about 24% in May, according to Eikon information. Musk holds about 13% of Tesla, according to FactSet data.
Musk was knocked out of first place by LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault in December after shares of Tesla decreased after his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter. Most of Musk’s wealth is linked to Tesla’s stock.
He is also the CEO of rocket manufacturer SpaceX and owns the social media company Twitter.
On Thursday, Musk left Shanghai after a high-profile two-day visit. While in China, he met with foreign minister Qin Gang and other Chinese officials. The holiday, amid poaching U.S.-China tensions, was a sign that China is an essential market to Tesla, analysts have said.
During the visit, Qin sought to assure Musk that China is open to foreign businesses and would continue offering them a friendly business environment. Reportedly, Musk also signaled further expansion in China.
In November, Tesla’s stock hit a two-year low when its share price dropped to $167.87, the lower since November 2020. It was partly due to a sell-off that accelerated after Musk’s appropriation of Twitter.
According to Bloomberg information, LVMH’s Arnault now trails behind Musk as the globe’s second wealthiest man at $187 billion, followed by Jeff Bezos, the billionaire inventor of Amazon.
The old prestige pyramid—where Ivy League degrees and blue-chip consulting backgrounds paved the way to the CEO seat—is cracking.
Loud leaders once ruled the boardroom. Charisma was currency. Big talk drove big valuations.
But the CEOs who make history in downturns aren’t the ones with the deepest cuts
Companies invest millions in leadership development, yet many of their best executives leave within a few years. Why?
The most successful business leaders don’t just identify gaps in the market; they anticipate future needs before anyone else.
With technological advancements, shifting consumer expectations, and global interconnectedness, the role of business leaders
May 28, 2025: SpaceX’s latest Starship test flight, conducted on May 27, 2025, ended in failure when the spacecraft’s upper stage broke apart during its descent over the Indian Ocean.
May 27, 2025: Greek Coastguards Charged Over 2023 Pylos Migrant Shipwreck That Killed Hundreds
May 27, 2025: Volvo to Cut 3,000 Jobs in Europe as Part of $1.9B Restructuring Amid EV Slowdown and Tariff Pressures.
The old prestige pyramid—where Ivy League degrees and blue-chip consulting backgrounds paved the way to the CEO seat—is cracking.
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