esofto: The Next Generation of Leadership in Enterprise Software

Once the economic engine that created enough wealth for Larry Ellison to become the richest man in California, Azim Premji, the richest man in India, and Bill Gates the richest man in world, no sector of the economy has been as out of favor as long as enterprise software. Their success created excess as entrepreneurs, visionaries, dreamers, and con men rushed to follow in the same foot steps. The result was a bubble every bit as historically significant as the Tulip Mania in 15th century Holland (when one bulb sold for $35,000 in today's dollars), or the South Sea Bubble in 17th century England (when shares in South Sea Company rose from £75 to £1,000 in 7 months).

Yet enterprise software is showing signs of a remarkable come back. Some of the investment in research and development made during the boom is beginning to bear fruit. In turn, a new generation of leadership is emerging poised to take advantage of new business and technology trends.

Who will be in the next generation of leaders in enterprise software? First, we know that some organizations have a track record for growing leaders of character and capability. Second, we know that leaders are grown not by the lessons in classroom but by the lessons of experience--lessons gleaned from challenging and varied job experiences.

Drawing on our many contacts and highly subjective view of the world, we are presenting in this issue an unscientific, non-inclusive list of 25 people, in the hopes of helping readers identify those executives who promise to have an impact on the industry as dramatic as an Ellison, a Gates, or a Premji.

We asked most of the people on this list the secret of their success. Some were generous enough to include it, others opted to keep that secret to themselves.

Any list of this nature is bound to have missed some people who should have been included. If you believe there are any significant errors or omissions in this list, please don't hesitate to email us directly at editor@esofto.com.

2005 Enterprise Software Leaders

Chris Baker Bio
Chris Baker
CEO
Group 1 Software