Jack Welch is probably the most famous CEO in the world – still, despite having been retired from GE since 2001.  His reign there was controversial – some called him Neutron Jack for reducing GE’s head count from over 400,00 to less than 300,000 in his first five years as CEO.  In 2000, he was named ‘manager of the century’ by Fortune.  His first book, Jack: Straight from the Gut, was a NYTimes #1 bestseller, and he continues to advise and offer opinions on the business issues of the day, including displaying skepticism about global warming and other environmental issues while saying that companies have to embrace ‘green’ business because the customers want it. 

But how good a speaker is he?

You can see him here talking about how people are his products:  http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/260/.  Also here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaXO9Uab6K0, at the 2009 Global Business Forum. 

Jack is an energetic, intelligent speaker.  He’s at his best responding to questions, and he does so with real thoughtfulness and candor.  That said, he comes across as a bit of a bully with a nasal, harsh voice that grates on the ear and a tendency to think his answers are more startling and original than they are.  He’s a real Yankee – the kind that says ‘chaaaage’, not ‘charge’ and  ‘staaaat’, not ‘start’. 

Jack is fine in small doses, and when he’s well focused.  But he would pall over the longer haul of an hour-long speech.  Catch him on the Q n A.