The Soon-Shiong file Featured

7:00pm EDT February 28, 2007

Age: 54

Born: South Africa

Education: Undergraduate degree, medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; master’s degree, science, University of British Columbia

What is the best business lesson you’ve learned?

Hire smart people who are secure in their abilities, smart people who are secure enough to hire even smarter people.

What characteristics really benefit a business leader?

I think it’s truly the ability to lead by example. If you’re asking someone to roll up their sleeves and get to work while you are on the golf course, that’s a straightforward example of what not to do.

You have to get the job done and make sure there are no hierarchical issues. If you are asking your people to extend themselves, you must extend yourself in the same way.

What is a universal truth you’ve learned about leading a business?

Do the right thing. It might sound trite, but when you do something, ask yourself, ‘Was that the right thing to do?’

If it was, indeed, the right thing, everything should be fine.

How do you define success in business?

It’s when you’ve made a difference in somebody else’s life, and I honestly believe that. If you make a difference in other people’s lives, the business will inherently be successful.