What Makes a Great CEO: A Conversation with Executive Search Consultant John T. Thompson
In his three decades as an executive search consultant, John T. Thompson completed more than 200 CEO searches and recruited over 300 directors for prominent companies, including Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Nike. Holding a bachelor’s degree in economics from Virginia Tech (1970) and an MBA (1972) from Pamplin College of Business, he established himself as a leading executive search consultant, notable serving as Vice Chairman of the Global CEO/Directors Practice at Heidrick & Struggles International Inc. Throughout his career, Thompson has completed 386 board placements and 263 CEO searches, including high-profile placements such as Eric Schmidt at Google and Tim Cook at Apple.
What does a highly successful executive search consultant look for in candidates to lead high-powered companies? To find out the answer to these and other questions about his life’s journey, Dean Saonee Sarker sat down with Thompson recently for a fireside chat as part of the Endowed Wells Fargo Distinguished Speaker Series. What follows is an edited version of their conversation.
Saonee Sarker: John, can you share your Virginia Tech journey with us? How did a Virginia Tech education shape your career, and is there anything you would have done differently?
John Thompson: Sure. I earned my undergraduate degree in Economics back in 1970, so it’s been a few decades! I went straight into an MBA program two years later. Since an MBA is an applied degree, I might have benefited from some work experience before the MBA. I worked two days a week for the Alumni Association as my first job while I was working on my MBA.
SS: It sounds like your career took you down a diverse path. Would you do anything differently?
JT: Although finances and titles are really important, I came to realize it is better to focus on working with the right people from whom you can learn rather than focusing on compensation.
SS: For those seeking their first job or considering career moves, what do you look for in potential hires?
JT: I always look for three things: capacity, know-how, and motivation. Capacity is about whether someone is smart enough to handle the complexity of the role. Know-how speaks to any relevant experience that helps them navigate the learning curve. Motivation is about the drive to excel, the persistence to push through challenges.
SS: You’ve mentioned that you’ve often felt like an underdog. How did this perspective shape your career?
JT: Growing up in a small town and being a first-generation college graduate, I often felt I had to prove myself. The sense of being an underdog drove me to work harder and be open to learning from mentors and teachers. I believe it’s crucial to embrace resilience and self-awareness to push through.
SS: With such a successful career, did you ever experience burnout? How did you manage it?
JT: Yes, I did. Early on, I worked 80–90 hours a week, thinking I needed to outwork everyone else. Eventually, I realized that long hours weren’t sustainable. Burnout often comes from doing the same thing over and over without learning anything new.
SS: Can you define success? Has your definition changed over time?
JT: It has. In the beginning, I looked for titles, recognition, and financial success. But over time, I learned that success is more about gratitude for the journey and appreciating each opportunity. Being able to take risks, learn, and connect with people along the way is where the real value lies.
SS: What book would you recommend to aspiring business leaders?
JT: One I recommend is Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. It revisits themes from his book 25 years earlier, The Tipping Point, analyzing how trends and technologies either succeed or fail. It’s insightful and easy to read.
SS: Looking back, what advice would you give your younger self?
JT: Take advantage of opportunities that everyone else may not see. Never underestimate yourself. Remember there is only one version of you, so ask yourself “What am I going to do with my precious life?” Be willing to take the risk to make things happen; not everything is going to work out the way you planned. Resilience and persistence will always get you far.
