About this episode
Spotify, Oracle, and Comcast have each recently announced they’re going with co-C.E.O.s. In this 2023 episode, we dig into the research and hear firsthand stories of triumph and disaster. Also: lessons from computer programmers, Simon and Garfunkel, and bears versus alligators. SOURCES: Jim Balsillie , retired chairman and co-C.E.O. of Research In Motion. Mike Cannon-Brookes , co-founder and C.E.O. of Atlassian. Scott Farquhar , co-founder and former co-C.E.O. of Atlassian. Marc Feigen , C.E.O. advisor. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld , professor of management studies and senior associate dean at the Yale School of Management and founding president of the Chief Executive Leadership Institute. Laurie Williams , professor of computer science at North Carolina State University. RESOURCES: " Scott Farquhar to resign as joint CEO of Atlassian ," by Jonathan Barrett (The Guardian, 2024). " Is It Time to Consider Co-C.E.O.s? " by Marc A. Feigen, Michael Jenkins, and Anton Warendh ( Harvard Business Review, 2022). " The Costs and Benefits of Pair Programming ," by Alistair Cockburn and Laurie Williams (2000). " Strengthening the Case for Pair Programming ," by Laurie Williams, Robert R. Kessler, Ward Cunningham, and Ron Jeffries ( IEEE Software, 2000). EXTRAS: " The Secret Life of a C.E.O. ," series by Freakonomics Radio (2018). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.