Unveiling the Secrets: Leadership Insights from 3 Successful CEOs

Bob Iger of Disney, Howard Schultz of Starbucks, and Elon Musk of Tesla, SpaceX, X, and like a hundred other things.

These are highly successful leaders of great companies.

Have you ever wondered what their leadership journey was like?

What led to their success?

More importantly, you’re probably wondering what you can take away from their experience and apply to your own life.

Let’s get started by unpacking each of the three leaders, beginning with Bob Iger.

#1 BOB IGER

Bob Iger is one of the most influential figures in the entertainment industry.

A lot of people don’t know that he actually began his career in television over four decades ago at ABC in 1974. Here, he climbed the ranks, starting as a studio supervisor before becoming a news producer and eventually president of ABC Television.

During his time, he was instrumental in launching hit programs, including the iconic 'Good Morning America.'

With the acquisition of ABC by Disney in 1996, Iger transitioned into Disney’s leadership team, where he oversaw television operations and continued to drive innovative programming.

In 2005, Iger reached a pivotal moment in his career when he was appointed CEO of The Walt Disney Company. This really marked the beginning of a transformative era for Disney, one focused on revitalization and global expansion.

Under Iger’s leadership, Disney made several game-changing acquisitions. In 2006, they acquired Pixar for $7.4 billion, which revolutionized Disney’s animation division and led to a series of blockbuster films.

Just a few years later, in 2009, Disney purchased Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion, bringing iconic characters and the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the fold.

Then in 2012, Iger acquired Lucasfilm, gaining the legendary 'Star Wars' franchise.

But Iger didn’t stop there. He recognized the shift in digital and the importance of content in the new media landscape. Under his guidance, Disney launched Disney+, a streaming service that debuted in 2019 and quickly became a major player against competitors like Netflix.

In 2020, Iger announced his retirement, passing the CEO baton on while remaining as executive chairman until the end of 2021.

However, things weren’t going well in his absence.

In late 2022, Iger made a triumphant return as CEO, signaling a need for stability, a renewed focus on Disney’s strategic vision, and a need for Iger’s commanding leadership.

Pretty remarkable, huh?

Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, 21st Century Fox, Disney+...

I didn’t even mention that his leadership at Disney also launched global efforts like Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Shanghai Disney Resort.

Iger managed to grow Disney's market capitalization from approximately $56 billion to over $231 billion

That’s impressive.

Let’s take a look at the next leader.

#2 HOWARD SCHULTZ

Schultz's connection with Starbucks began in 1981 when he joined the company as the Director of Retail Operations and Marketing.

At the time, Starbucks was primarily a retailer of coffee beans and equipment. But Schultz saw something greater—he envisioned a coffeehouse culture that would bring people together.

After a trip to Italy, where he experienced the vibrant coffee culture of espresso bars, Schultz was inspired to transform Starbucks, but the founders weren’t interested.

In 1985, he left to start his own coffee company, but in 1987, he seized the opportunity to buy Starbucks and fully realize his vision.

Under Schultz’s leadership, Starbucks evolved from a small coffee bean retailer into the global coffeehouse brand we all know.

From the first store in Seattle to thousands of locations worldwide, Schultz’s focus on quality, customer experience, and employee engagement set Starbucks apart. He was also a pioneer in promoting ethical sourcing practices, establishing the Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices, which emphasized fair trade.

Schultz's leadership wasn’t without challenges. After stepping down as CEO in 2000, he returned in 2008 during the financial crisis when Starbucks faced declining sales. His comeback focused on revitalizing the brand, enhancing customer experience, and improving employee welfare.

Schultz’s commitment to social responsibility also shone through with initiatives aimed at community engagement and sustainability. He believed that businesses could be a force for good, and his actions reflected that ethos.

Schultz grew Starbucks from 11 stores to over 35,000 locations worldwide and expanded it internationally, including the first store in Tokyo.

He introduced comprehensive healthcare and stock options for both full-time and part-time employees, setting a new standard for corporate responsibility.

What Schultz has achieved through Starbucks is really interesting and serves as a unique lesson in leadership.

Starbucks isn’t just a coffee store; it’s so much bigger and more influential than that.

Schultz created a cultural icon.

He also pioneered and successfully implemented the “third place” concept. Meaning he created a welcoming space between home and work where customers could relax and connect.

We take that for granted today, but it didn’t really exist before Starbucks.

Finally, he managed to turn a coffee shop into a viable career.

Employees had benefits that challenged all of corporate America to do better.

It’s impressive.

Okay, let’s look at our last leader.

#3 ELON MUSK

Musk has redefined multiple industries.

He’s practically become our very own Tony Stark.

Born in South Africa in 1971, Elon Musk showed an early aptitude for technology and entrepreneurship. At just 12, he created and sold his own video game.

After moving to the U.S. to attend the University of Pennsylvania, he co-founded Zip2, which provided business directories and maps for newspapers.

In 1999, Musk's entrepreneurial spirit led to the creation of X.com, which eventually became PayPal.

Under his leadership, PayPal revolutionized online payments, and in 2002, eBay acquired it for $1.5 billion. This marked the start of Musk's rise as a tech tycoon.

With a significant financial windfall, Musk founded SpaceX in 2002, driven by a dream of making space travel affordable and ultimately colonizing Mars.

His bold vision faced skepticism, but Musk’s relentless determination led SpaceX to achieve groundbreaking milestones, including the first privately-funded spacecraft to reach orbit.

In 2004, he joined Tesla Motors, where he played a crucial role in pushing electric vehicles into the mainstream. As CEO and product architect, Musk transformed Tesla into a leader in sustainable energy, emphasizing innovation, design, and performance.

Under his leadership, Tesla became the most valuable car company in the world.

Whether through the development of the Tesla Gigafactories or the ambitious plans for the Hyperloop, Musk’s vision consistently pushes the boundaries of technology.

Beyond cars and rockets, Musk has ventured into renewable energy with SolarCity and the development of the Tesla Powerwall. His commitment to sustainability reflects his belief that businesses can—and should—address global challenges like climate change.

What I love about Elon Musk as a leadership model is that he embodies the spirit of innovation.

He's the king of innovation.

But it’s not just innovation.

He still manages to bring innovation to the marketplace.

Not to mention, the man has his foot in a thousand camps and somehow still manages to have focus.

That’s only possible through strong leadership.

COMMON DENOMINATORS

Okay, now that we have an overview of our three leaders.

Let’s talk about what we can take away from their success and experience.

What do all of these leaders, no matter their industry, have in common?

#1 VISIONARY THINKING

All three leaders possess a strong vision for their companies and industries.

Iger transformed Disney into a global entertainment powerhouse through strategic acquisitions and brand expansion.

Schultz revitalized Starbucks by creating a unique customer experience and positioning it as a premium brand.

Musk is known for his ambitious vision of the future, whether through space exploration with SpaceX or sustainable energy with Tesla.

Vision is what drives their leadership.

#2 INNOVATION

Each leader has been at the forefront of innovation in their field.

Iger embraced new technologies and storytelling methods, including digital streaming with Disney+.

Schultz innovated in the coffee industry by introducing the concept of the coffeehouse as a "third place" for people to gather.

And we all know Musk is the innovation king. He continuously disrupts traditional industries through electric vehicles, space travel, and renewable energy.

#3 WORK ETHIC

All three leaders display an unquestionable work ethic.

In their books and masterclasses, there is a disproportionate amount of information offered on their unique time-efficiency practices, priority-setting systems, and productivity drive.

Elon Musk has stated he works 120 hours per week, a figure he has recently revised down to 80 to 90 hours.

Now, that’s obviously wildly extreme.

Please don’t do that if you have a family.

Go home. Play with your kids.

Don’t lose on the home front to win on the work front.

However, the lesson is that you can’t be lazy and be a successful leader.

You’ve got to have a strong work ethic.

#4 TEAM CULTURE

Each leader emphasizes the importance of their team and their company culture.

Iger is known for fostering a collaborative environment at Disney.

Schultz focused on creating a strong company culture at Starbucks that values employees.

Musk inspires his teams with a hands-on approach and a shared mission to achieve ambitious goals.

They all understand the importance of setting the culture from the top down.

In other words, THEY, as the leader, set the culture.

#5 MAINTAIN OUTWARD FOCUS

It’s about the customer. It’s not about us.

All three leaders understand the importance of the customer experience.

Iger has worked to enhance Disney's commitment to storytelling and customer engagement.

Schultz built Starbucks around creating a unique and welcoming experience for customers.

Musk’s companies prioritize customer feedback and innovation to meet evolving consumer needs.

Too many leaders, teams, and companies turn inward and lose their outward focus.

This will inevitably kill them.

#6 RESILIENT THROUGH ADVERSITY

All three leaders proved that they could lead through crisis.

Whether it was an economic downturn, tragedy, setbacks, failure, you name it…

These leaders proved that they could be resilient and lead through crisis.

That’s not insignificant.

That’s the mark of a true leader.

APPLICATION

So, let’s bring it home.

Here’s how you can become a better leader.

1. Lead with vision.

2. Innovate.

3. Develop a strong work ethic.

4. Cultivate your team culture.

5. Maintain an outward focus.

6. Stay resilient in the face of adversity.

That’s some pretty beefy homework.

But I think we can handle it.

One day, one week, one year at a time.

I’m here to encourage you.

You got this.

Keep fighting the good fight.