The interview with Kevin W. Sharer Essay

In the current case study analysis we will review the interview with Kevin W. Sharer, who has been the chief executive of Amgen, the biotechnology company in Thousand Oaks, Calif., since 2000. The interview was published on March 28, 2009, in The New York Times.
At the beginning of the interview, Kevin W. Sharer says that he was fortunate that he had been hired at McKinsey and he realized how to think as a manager at a young age. It is important to know how to do analysis and how to be clear and efficient in communications. Kevin W. Sharer says that this experience has helped him a lot. Kevin W. Sharer says: “I’ve certainly learned other things in the intervening years, but I think the family background, submarine, McKinsey, G.E. experience was foundationally important and I draw on it to this day.”, according to An interview with Kevin W. Sharer.
It should be noted that Kevin W. Sharer shares in the interview that taking risks is important and that leadership is about authenticity. Communication is essential and people have to use it effectively. Kevin W. Sharer says that he is a coachable person and he also appreciate fast flow of the information, as it is considered extremely important and perspective nowadays.
As well, Kevin W. Sharer says that he values the sense of humor and intelligence. Not taking yourself too seriously is an indispensable rule for him. The ability to grow and learn should be valued. Moreover, Kevin W. Sharer admits that he is disciplined on scheduling. He says that “The day tends to get broken up into about 20- to 25-minute segments.”, according to An interview with Kevin W. Sharer.
Considering the modern gadgets that he appreciates, Kevin W. Sharer says that he likes iPhone because it is efficient, convenient and has many applications.
Considering the previous experience in his career, Kevin W. Sharer says that he learned a lot of things: “around the concept of humility, around the concept of having allies before you move, and around the concept of spending the time to deeply understand the business.”
And finally, Kevin W. Sharer suggests the books that he thinks people should read to become better managers and leaders. The books are: “Built to Last.” and the Professor John P. Kotter at Harvard, and his small book on leadership and how it’s different than management. Following the tendencies is important and the way a person leads people and his followers is really important. Many things have to be taken into consideration and constant analysis and evaluations have to be made.
All in all, Kevin W. Sharer admits that “Great leaders have something that when you see it, you know what it is, but it’s hard ahead of time to describe exactly what it is.”, as stated in An interview with Kevin W. Sharer. Being a leader is an indispensable quality of a successful manager, who can inspire people and make them feel part of a larger thing. As well, according to Kevin W. Sharer, as person is able to succeed as a C.E.O. if he is sincerely open to and seeks feedback, as it is a very isolating job.