Tech News World: "Fiorina & Whitman - Leading a Tech Business Does Not a Great Politician Make"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/71086.html?wlc=1287757346

Leading a Tech Business Does Not a Great Politician Make

By Richard Adhikari
TechNewsWorld
10/22/10 5:00 AM PT

Since the latter days of the 20th Century, business and political leaders have moved between each others' fields with increasing ease. Vice President Dick Cheney was one; Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is another.

Right now, two former leaders of high-tech companies are running for office: former HP (NYSE: HPQ) CEO Carly Fiorina and former eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY) CEO Meg Whitman. Both headed major high-tech companies; both are, of course, women; both are running in California (Fiorina for U.S. Senate, Whitman for governor); and both are Republicans.

But is experience in leading a tech giant a sufficient qualification to hold political office? And, if so, why?

One could argue that holding a top management position at a technology corporation is no different to holding a similar position in any other business in terms of qualifying a person for political leadership. It certainly couldn't be less of a qualification than being an actor.

[nunyabidness]

1. Unless all you`re concerned with is helping big corporations, not effectively running a state.