Are Two C.E.O.s Better Than One? (Update)

Spotify, Oracle, and Comcast have each recently announced they’re going with co-C.E.O.s. In this 2023 episode, we dig into the research and hear firsthand stories of triumph and disaster. Also: lessons from computer programmers, Simon and Garfunkel, and bears versus alligators.

SOURCES:Jim Balsillie • , retired chairman and co-C.E.O. of Research In Motion. Mike Cannon-Brookes • , co-founder and C.E.O. of Atlassian. Scott Farquhar • , co-founder and former co-C.E.O. of Atlassian. Marc Feigen • , C.E.O. advisor. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld • , professor of management studies and senior associate dean at the Yale School of Management and founding president of the Chief Executive Leadership Institute. Laurie Williams • , professor of computer science at North Carolina State University.

RESOURCES: • " Scott Farquhar to resign as joint CEO of Atlassian • ," by Jonathan Barrett (The Guardian, • 2024). • " Is It Time to Consider Co-C.E.O.s? • " by Marc A. Feigen, Michael Jenkins, and Anton Warendh ( Harvard Business Review, • 2022). • " The Costs and Benefits of Pair Programming • ," by Alistair Cockburn and Laurie Williams (2000). • " Strengthening the Case for Pair Programming • ," by Laurie Williams, Robert R. Kessler, Ward Cunningham, and Ron Jeffries ( IEEE Software, • 2000).

EXTRAS: • " The Secret Life of a C.E.O. • ," series by Freakonomics Radio • (2018).

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