Skip to content

If somebody's going on your board, and you're going to be…

“If somebody's going on your board, and you're going to be C.E.O., it will help if that person knows how to be C.E.O., who has done it before.” quote by Ben Horowitz
Download Open image
“If somebody's going on your board, and you're going to be C.E.O., it will help if that person knows how to be C.E.O., who has done it before.”

Ben Horowitz

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Effective leadership succession benefits when the incoming CEO has prior experience or mentorship from someone who has successfully held the role.

In simple terms: Experience helps new CEOs.

Key Takeaway

Seek mentorship before leading.

Themes

leadership succession experience

Mood

strategic pragmatic

Type

advisory insight

When to use this quote

  • executive hiring
  • board decisions
  • career planning

Key Concepts

CEO mentorship organizational learning

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can a new CEO balance learning from mentors with innovation?
  • What risks arise from over‑reliance on precedent?
A Different Perspective

Relying on past experience may limit fresh perspectives.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Ben Horowitz

Explore all 207 Ben Horowitz quotes

More Before quotes

Browse all 4,123 Before quotes