categories
HOT TOPICS
- The Accelerator Conundrum
- The Startup Velocity Question
- Platform as a Service
- Man and Superman
- Web 3.0 = (4C + P + VS)
- The Future: End of Capitalism
- Capitalism 2.0
Role Model Interview
Leadership Profile: Sass Somekh (Part 10)
I conclude my discussion with Sass on hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. He evaluates the positions of major world automotive makers, and illustrates how activities in the Valley can affect change by having Silicon Valley emerge as a technology center for hybrid / battery technology. SM: The goal is to let you cover your entire
Leadership Profile: Tom Werner (Part 9)
After discussing German and Japanese markets, Tom visits the North American markets with a particular emphasis on California. Of particular interest is the amount of growth which is expected, spurred in part by governmental policy and incentive programs. We use that discussion as a catalyst to have some quick discussions on the current and projected
Leadership Profile: Sass Somekh (Part 9)
Social activism has emerged into wide scale leadership, as Sass has led a drive in Silicon Valley for corporations to develop energy policies of carbon neutrality. After being spurned by members of Congress, he has kick started initiatives which are leading to substantive change. SM: When you say we, do you mean you have made
Leadership Profile: Tom Werner (Part 8)
Germany has a political environment, influenced by voters, which is very supportive and progressive about solar energy. This has resulted in creating a very large and solid marketplace which SunPower has been able to capitalize on. SM: What has been driving Germany’s big focus on solar? Is that part of their energy policy? TW: When
Leadership Profile: Sass Somekh (Part 8)
Aside from his executive role as the President of Novellus, Sass has also been engaging in a social entrepreneur role. Here Sass discusses the issue of US dependence on foreign oil, and his mission to change that dynamic. SM: Let us discuss your more recent work in Cleantech. SS: In the past year I started
Leadership Profile: Tom Werner (Part 7)
SunPower went public in 2005, which is a monumental moment for most firms. It is always interesting to take note of firms who do not press the IPO, rather they wait for banks to begin courting them. Tom revisits that timeframe and explains SunPower’s progression during that period in thehistory of the company. SM: You
Leadership Profile: Sass Somekh (Part 7)
The semiconductor market is undergoing constant innovation and change, and at present, much of the challenge is in miniaturization, as the large volume chips are mostly going into consumer electronics. This introduces unique problems for equipment companies: they must effectively manage productivity, while also being sources of innovation. Here Sass explores both of these phenomena
Leadership Profile: Tom Werner (Part 6)
The later half of 2004 marked the beginning of production operations. SunPower began producing solar cells, a result of $150M of capital investments. On the books, this timeframe represents the greatest period of loss in the company’s history, due largely to the development of the new production lines. It was, of course, necessary. SM: What
