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Elon Musk is one of the richest men in the world, but how does he really run his companies? Take a look behind the scenes at Tesla and SpaceX with a look at what happened behind the scenes at Tesla and SpaceX, from a former employee who worked directly with Musk.
What happens when you put the richest man on the planet in charge of one of the most innovative companies in the world?
For many, Elon Musk is the symbol of the future, a visionary leader capable of transforming entire industries.
However, those who actually work alongside Musk reveal a darker and more surprising side to his leadership style.
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Get ready to learn the secrets of what it's like to work under the leadership of the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, with revelations from a former high-profile employee.
Musk's Leadership Style: An Unconventional Formula
Elon Musk, at first glance, seems like the epitome of an eccentric genius. According to Andrej Karpathy, Tesla’s former head of AI and computer vision, Musk’s leadership doesn’t follow any of the traditional norms of large corporations. Karpathy, who worked directly with Musk for five years, describes leadership that defies convention and deviates from corporate rigidity.
Musk doesn't fit the bill of a typical CEO, and that fact is evident from the moment he puts his management philosophy into practice.
For him, the key to the success of Tesla, SpaceX and other initiatives is keeping teams small, specialized and with complete autonomy.
Managing large teams and bureaucracy, with many hierarchical layers, is far from the formula that Musk follows.
Against Bureaucracy: The Musk Formula for Efficiency
In his experience, Karpathy shares that the first big lesson was about team organization.
While many companies prefer to expand with well-defined departments and roles, Musk has always been against the idea of adding layers of bureaucracy.
According to Karpathy, at Tesla, decisions were made quickly, with a lean structure where he himself had to constantly ask for new employees. If someone wasn't delivering as expected, they were fired almost immediately.
This approach may seem ruthless, but Musk firmly believes it’s the reason for the company’s rapid pace of innovation. Rather than relying on middle managers, Musk preferred to make engineers the primary source of input and decision-making. This approach was designed to ensure that teams were fully aligned with Tesla’s technical goals, without unnecessary management overhead.
Musk Could Not Tolerate Stagnation: Speed As A Principle
The relentless pursuit of innovation and speed is in Musk’s DNA. He doesn’t believe in complacency or stagnation, as Karpathy explains.
As a result, large, unnecessary meetings were quickly eliminated, and teams were encouraged to stay away from meetings they weren’t actively involved in. This is a reflection of how Musk manages his time and demands agility in everything.
According to Karpathy, while many companies offer superficial perks and bonuses, Musk believes that productivity should be measured by the real impact an employee makes.
This focus on real results is reflected not only in the day-to-day lives of those who work with him, but also in Musk's own expectations.
For him, perfection is not an option — it’s a constant goal. And the obsession with pushing the boundaries is at the heart of everything Tesla does, whether it’s developing electric cars, autonomous vehicles or artificial intelligence technologies.
The CEO Who Gets Involved in Everything
What really sets Musk apart from other CEOs is his level of direct involvement in the company's technical issues.
While many bosses delegate decisions to senior managers, Musk has a reputation for diving headfirst into the most complex issues at Tesla and SpaceX.
Karpathy reports that Musk spends more than 50% of his time with engineering teams, something rare for an executive of his caliber.
This level of involvement is so intense that, in one notable example, Musk was able to directly intervene in a shortage of GPUs (graphics processing units) by contacting suppliers and even calling the CEO of Nvidia.
Karpathy points out that this type of direct action, while somewhat atypical for a CEO, shows how Musk is aligned with the company's technical needs.
Ambitious Promises, Complex Results
However, not everything is perfect in Musk's world. His critics point out that his tendency to make grandiose promises doesn't always translate into immediate results.
One example of this was the promise of fully autonomous vehicles capable of crossing the United States without human intervention, something that has not yet materialized within the established deadlines.
However, what Musk has that is strongest is his ability to make quick adjustments and continue the process of continuous improvement.
This obsession with constant innovation is what keeps Tesla ahead of its competitors in the field of assisted driving technologies and other technological advancements.
Musk's Impact on Corporate Culture
Musk’s legacy extends beyond his technological innovations. His leadership style has had a profound impact on Tesla’s corporate culture.
The idea of cutting red tape, maintaining a lean and dynamic team, and getting directly involved in technical processes has transformed the way many companies think about efficiency and innovation.
Karpathy, even after his departure from Tesla, still shows respect for Musk's unique approach, acknowledging that it was this boldness that allowed Tesla to stand out in highly competitive markets.
Musk, despite his flaws and controversies, remains one of the most fascinating figures in today's corporate landscape.
Today, Elon Musk can be seen as a misunderstood genius, a ruthless leader, or a daring entrepreneur.
But the truth is that his leadership style is shaping the future of large corporations. He challenges norms, demands perfection and does not tolerate mediocrity.
The question that remains in the air: Would you be able to work for a boss like Musk, or would you prefer a more traditional, comfortable environment?
