AOL: Steve Case

Leadership

Reflecting on his leadership at AOL, Steve Case describes his evolution from a company leader to a spokesperson for the entire Internet. He embraced the role of a cheerleader, rallying his team and community around a shared mission. "People have to believe in the mission. They have to believe it's sort of a battle worth fighting," he explains, emphasizing the importance of vision and execution 1. This approach helped him navigate the challenges of leading a groundbreaking company 2.

   

Entrepreneurship

After leaving AOL, Steve sought new entrepreneurial ventures, driven by a desire to return to the foundational challenges he enjoyed. He chose not to start another company but instead focused on mentoring and investing in entrepreneurs across various sectors. "I wanted to go back to the garage and kind of roll up my sleeves and focus on new things," he shares, highlighting his commitment to fostering innovation 3.

   

Vision

Steve attributes his success to a blend of vision, perseverance, and an understanding of policy's role in innovation. He stresses the importance of seeing around corners and taking a long-term view, noting that revolutions often unfold gradually. "Recognizing that revolutions sometimes happen in evolutionary ways, and you got to have to take a long-term view," he advises, underscoring the need for patience and strategic foresight 4.