At most of the world’s well-established companies, CEOs have grey hairs and the wisdom associated with gaining them. While reaching the top of the corporate ladder is often the result of many decades of toil, a significant number of under-30s are showing that it’s possible to lead thriving enterprises long before the greying process starts.
These young CEOs clearly don’t have the experience of their FTSE-100 counterparts, whose average age is 55, but is this such an important factor in effective business leadership?
Whether leadership is an inherent skill – something a young CEO may be predisposed to – has long been debated. Several studies have considered the effects of someone’s genetics, education and cultural experiences on their potential to lead, but Connson Locke, professorial lecturer in management at the London School of Economics, notes that the research suggests that “no particular trait will make you a good leader in every single context”.