Alum offers leadership tips to management students
Stephen F. Angel, an NC State engineering grad who is now chairman, president and chief executive officer of Praxair, Inc., spoke on campus Wednesday as part of the Poole College of Management’s Wells Fargo Executive Leadership series.
Here’s a quick glance at some of his tips for would-be leaders in the business world:
- Work for people who will challenge you, not someone you’re comfortable with.
- Learn to give and ask for feedback.
- Don’t be too general a manager. Develop strong competence in at least one area and maintain it throughout your career.
- Learn finance. It’s the language of business.
- Don’t be viewed as high maintenance or a self-promoter.
- Develop the proper balance between self confidence and humility.
- Be yourself. Be authentic.
- Be someone who can be counted on to keep confidences.
- Don’t always rely on email. Step away from the computer and walk down the hall to have a conversation.
- Write heartfelt, thoughtful notes.
- Prepare, prepare, prepare.
- It doesn’t cost you much to be gracious.
Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South American and one of the largest in the world. It produces, sells and distributed atmospheric and process gases and high-performance surface coatings. Before joining Praxair in 2011, Angel was the general manager of General Electric’s $2-billion power equipment business.
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