History fathers today and the future. Today we briefly look at the lives of some common names that relate to popular business people or organizations. Contrary to popular interests expressed by previous writers, the intent here is to dig a little into their early lives noting any unique features they might have had while growing up. The list does not follow any order, neither does it claim superiority of those included over the other millions of innovative entrepreneurs across the globe that have not been mentioned. Generally, you will realize either each of the ones included or the companies they represent are common on the internet.
Larry Page- Co-Founder and CEO Google
He was born in 1973. His father, Carl Vincent Page was a computer science professor at Michigan State University while his mother Gloria was a computer-programming instructor. Though his mother was Jewish, Page was not raised under the confines of any religious beliefs. Notably, he became interested in computers at the age of six and played around with the ‘first-generation computers’ that his parents had left. Amazingly, he was the first pupil in his elementary school to use a word processor for assignments. His older brother told him how to take computer things apart and in an interview, he once conceded that he always had that desire to invent something in him. He holds a degree with honors in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan and a master in computer science from Stanford University.
Sir Richard Branson- Virgin Group
In 2014, Forbes reported Branson as the seventh richest citizen of the U.K. He was born in 1950 as the eldest of three children. His father was a lawyer and his mother a former ballet dancer and an air hostess. As a student, he had such a poor performance in class that on his last day at school his headmaster boldly predicted that he would either end up in prison or be a millionaire straight to Branson’s face. He made his first business venture at the age of sixteen that was a magazine called the student. He also had a record business from a church crypt alongside the student magazine. He interviewed prominent personalities and advertised these records in The Student magazine. He traded the records under the name Virgin and his recording business was an overnight success. In 1984, he started Virgin Atlantic Airways, then in 1999 begun the Virgin Mobile and Virgin Blue that is today called Virgin Australia.Virginia Rometty “Ginni”- CEO IBM
Born in 1957, Ginni has been named in the Fortune Magazine for eight consecutive years among the “50 Most Powerful Women in Business”. The Forbes magazine ranked her tenth among the “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” in 2014. She graduated in 1979 and went to work with General Motors Institute. She has a bachelor’s with high honors in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science at Northwestern University. When, in 2011, IBM pronounced her as its next president and CEO, Sam Palmisano the CEO who had just stepped down stated this regarding her,
“Ginni got it because she deserved it!”
Marissa Mayer- Yahoo
Marissa Ann Mayer born in 1975 is the current CEO of Yahoo. She assumed the position after moving from Google where she had worked as an executive and a key spokesperson. She was born to Michael Mayer who was an Environmental Engineer and Margaret Mayer who was an art teacher. She took piano and ballet lessons that one may say helped her overcome the shyness she had as a child. She intended to pursue Pediatric neurosurgeon but upon joining Stanford University changed her major to symbolic systems. She danced in the University’s ballet ‘Nutcracker’. She graduated in 1997 with honors in B.S from Stanford University and in 1999 graduated in Computer Science. For both degrees, she had specialized in artificial intelligence. After graduating in 1999, she worked with Google since then until 2011 before joining Yahoo as a CEO in 2012Warren Buffet- Berkshire Hathaway
Born in 1930, Buffet was named the most successful investor of the 20thcentury. He is the Chairman, CEO and largest shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway. In 2011, he was ranked the world’s third wealthiest individual. Notably, he is a philanthropist and pledged to give away 99% of his wealth for philanthropist causes through the gates foundation. He was born second to a Howard buffet a Congressman and Leila. Buffet sold weekly magazines, chewing gum, and Coca-Cola from door to door. In 1945 while still in high school Buffet and a friend bought a pinball machine that they placed in a local barbershop. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Master of Science in Economics from Columbia. In addition, Buffet attended the New York Institute of Finance.
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