What Would Meg Do?
Forbes, May 21, 2007 magazine article is about Meg Whitman, CEO of EBay, who was on a flight to India with three other employees when one of them developed a dangerous gastrointestinal problem that required hospitalization. They landed the plane in Istanbul which was the closest airport. Whitman rode in the ambulance with the ill employee and stayed with him for hours in the hospital, talking to his wife on the phone. Once he was stabilized, Whitman flew with him to London in the corporate jet. Then, she and the other two employees flew commercial to India, leaving the jet for the patient to fly home to California. Rajir Dutta, head of EBay’s Pay Pal Business stated, “She will exert herself personally, far and above the call of duty. She makes you want to do the right thing.” This story exemplifies caring and compassion for people that is one of the key attributes that successful leaders possess.