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Discover how Elon Musk leads with intensity, cuts red tape and redefines innovation, according to a former Tesla employee who worked directly with him for 5 years.
Elon Musk is one of those figures who doesn’t go unnoticed. He is seen by many as a visionary who transforms entire sectors of the economy, but he also carries a controversial reputation. But what about those who work with him? What is it like to deal directly with his intensity and ideas? Andrej Karpathy, former head of AI and computer vision at Tesla, shared his experience and gave an insight into what it means to be under Musk’s leadership.
Elon Musk's unique style
Elon Musk is not your typical CEO. According to Karpathy, he represents a leadership model that completely breaks away from traditional corporate norms. Their decisions often seem instinctive, but they are deeply rooted in a technical understanding that few executives possess. This uniqueness is what drives Tesla to break barriers, whether in the automotive industry or in aerospace.
One of Musk’s trademarks is his relentless fight against bureaucracy. Karpathy points out that Musk keeps teams small and highly specialized, avoiding the organizational “fat” that can stifle innovation. At Tesla, every hire must be justified directly to the CEO. Musk is known for quickly firing those who don’t meet his standards. For him, efficiency and agility are more important than pleasing everyone.
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Dynamism above all
If you think endless meetings are part of any corporate job, think again. Musk has a clear policy: eliminate large, pointless meetings. He even encourages employees to leave a meeting if they feel like they’re not contributing. This approach may seem drastic, but it reflects his belief that every minute counts when it comes to innovation.
Another notable trait is Musk's intolerance for stagnation. He expects his employees to be constantly solving problems. For Musk, superficial amenities, common in Silicon Valley companies, are no substitute for an environment where innovation comes first.
A hands-on CEO
Unlike many CEOs who delegate key decisions, Musk is known for engaging directly with his technical teams. Karpathy notes that Musk spends about half of his time with engineers and other specialists. Whether it’s solving technical problems or dealing with suppliers, he’s always there when his insight is needed.
If a project hits a snag, Musk doesn’t hesitate to step in. Karpathy shared a prime example: When Tesla faced a GPU shortage, Musk reached out directly to Nvidia’s CEO to resolve the issue. This type of action demonstrates his commitment to making steady progress, no matter the challenge.
Musk is known for his ambitious promises, such as self-driving cars that would cruise across the U.S. without human intervention. While those goals have yet to be fully realized, his vision keeps Tesla ahead of its competitors in technologies like driver-assisted driving.
The obsession with innovation that keeps Tesla on top
Despite the criticism, Musk's obsession with continuous improvement is what makes Tesla a leader. He believes that the future belongs to those who are not afraid to dream big and take risks to make those dreams a reality.
Working with Elon Musk is not for everyone. His intensity, focus on results and aversion to bureaucracy create an environment that constantly pushes the limits of what is possible. For those seeking innovation and dynamism, being with Musk is a transformative experience. However, as Karpathy made clear, it also requires resilience and the ability to deal with sky-high expectations. After all, leading the future is no easy task, and Musk proves this every day.
And why did he leave Tesla?
Ridiculous. The guy is an actor paid by Blackrocks. He lives high on LED, keratin, cocaine, magic mushrooms. It's just a mafia front. He didn't invent anything, just as he was paid by J. P. Morgan who only lost money. Edson. Parmalat... a huge list of vultures paid to act as the Great Gatsby.
Does he bang his head against the wall? They say he's autistic, but for me he's only autistic if he bangs his head against the wall.