Andrew Grove: New Breed of Executive

Andrew Stephen Grove is a Hungarian-born American engineer, author and entrepreneur. He was one of the pioneers of the semiconductors industry. He was 20 years old when he left communist-controlled Hungary and settled in the US. He served as Intel Corporation’s CEO and helped make the company become one of the leading providers of semiconductors in the world.

Intel was founded in 1968 by Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore. Grove joined them in incorporating Intel and became the company’s first chief operating officer and directed all of Intel’s operations. In 1987, Grove was promoted to the position of chief executive officer.

Grove demonstrated an unusual management style. He implemented strategic decision-making, established markets for Intel’s new products, partnered with smaller manufacturers, and coordinated the manufacturing processes within Intel. The Intel Architecture Laboratory (IAL) was the handiwork of Grove. It was established to make sure the timely development of new microprocessors.

As Intel’s CEO, Grove oversaw the increase in the value of the company’s stocks by 2.4%. Consequently, Intel became one of the world’s most valuable companies. Grove spearheaded Intel in developing and promoting its microprocessors. In the 1980s, Intel’s microprocessors powered IBM’s computers including those of IBM’s competitors.

Grove gained considerable influence in the industry of modern electronics because of his work at Intel and his published articles and books. Grove earned the nickname “the guy who drove the growth phase” at Silicon Valley. Even Steve Jobs “idolized” Grove and sought his personal advices at times. In one source, Grove was cited to “merit a place alongside the great business leaders of the 20^th century.”

Grove was a recipient of numerous prestigious awards from the microprocessors industry. Among these awards were the 1987 IEEE Engineering Leadership Recognition, and the 1993AeA Medal of Achievement. He was named CEO of the Year by the CEOmagazine and Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1997.

Can You Imagine the Fashion World Without Levi Strauss? Walter Haas Saved Our Day

Walter Haas Sr. is an American executive who became popular as Chairman and President of the clothing company Levi Strauss & Co. Haas’ name is always attached to Levi Strauss because he helped save the company at the time when it was struggling and at the brink of shutting down.

Haas was born on May 11, 1889. He finished his bachelor’s degree in commerce at the University of California-Berkeley. After his stint with the US Army in the World War I, Haas worked with a small dry goods company named Levi Strauss, which was owned by his wife’s family. Haas became the company’s president in 1928 until 1955, then chairman until 1970.

Levi Strauss was affected so badly by the Great Depression. Haas and his business associate Daniel Koshland steered the company through the crises. Levi Strauss also pioneered racial integration into the company at the time of Haas. He was instrumental in making Levi a world renowned brand. He also created the Levi Strauss Foundation during his term.

William Gregg: Bringing Life Back to the South

William Gregg is an American jeweler and industrialist who founded the Graniteville Company. William championed industrial revolution earning him the moniker as the “father of southern cotton manufacturing.”

William was born on February 2, 1800 in Virginia. His mother, Elizabeth, died when he was just four so that William grew up under the care of a neighbor until he was ten. He lived with his uncle, Jacob Gregg, who was a successful watchsmith.

While William was in his teens, Jacob ventured in cotton milling in Georgia. However, the cotton mill failed to survive the War of 1812. In 1814, William worked as an apprentice for his uncle, Mr. Blanchard, a silversmith and watchmaker. This was William’s first encounter with watch and silverware. William went to Petersburg, Virginia in 1821 to perfect his profession.

When William completed his training, he established his jewelry business in Columbia, South Carolina. William became very successful in Columbia. In the 1830s, he travelled to many places in the US. In 1838, he began investing his fortunes and acquired interest in what eventually became Hayden, Gregg and Company, a jewelry and silversmith company.

William became interested in cotton milling. He acquired stakes in the cotton mill Vaucluse Manufacturing Company. Vaucluse taught William valuable lessons in the cotton business: one, how cotton manufacturing should not be done; and two, that cotton manufacturing should involve Georgia and the two Carolinas.

William went as far as New England to conduct inspections in the textile districts. These trips and his Vaucluse experiences prompted William to write essays which eventually became known as Essays on Domestic Industry.

Despite the fact that corporations were unpopular in those days, William and other Charleston natives sought for the incorporation of the Graniteville Manufacturing Company. In 1945, a state legislature ratified the charter of Graniteville. The locals helped build the mill. Its operations employed local farmers. The poor received wages similar to the rates in the Northern mills. William gave decent housing to his employees and provided them with medical care benefits at a low cost. He also built a small library and a community church.

Because of his invaluable contribution to South Carolina, he was elected to the state House of Representatives in 1856.

Kathy Keeton: Stripper Turned Businesswoman

Kathryn “Kathy” Keeton was a South-African born American magazine publisher. She was married to Bob Guccione. Together, they published the Penthouse magazine.

Kathy was born on February 17, 1939 in South Africa. She moved to London to train as a ballet dancer. She became a stripper at age 24 and was named as “one of Europe’s highest aid stripper” by the Associated Press. Kathy also founded other known magazines such as Viva in 1973, Omni in 1978, and Longevity in 1989. She had two published books – Woman of Tomorrow in 1986 and Longevity in 1992.

While working with her husband at Penthouse, Kathy held the position of President and Chief Operating Officer of General Media Communications. Penthouse had a legal battle with fellow magazine Hustler where she was the plaintiff.

Kathy was diagnosed with breast cancer. She resorted into self-medication after she read from Penthouse about hydrazine sulfate. She believed her tumors have shrunk after she survived several years following her physician’s prognosis that she had a few weeks left to live. She died on September 19, 1997 at 58 while undergoing surgery for an intestinal obstruction.