As part of our inaugural XR All-Stars series, we asked 50 XR Leaders to name their business hero.
Below is a snapshot of some of their answers. You can view their complete answers to these questions and more in XR All-Stars or click a leader’s name to view their full profile.
Apple is credited with turbocharging the extended reality industry after entering the market with its Vision Pro earlier this year, and its founding CEO is clearly revered by XR leaders.
Steve Jobs
XR All-Stars said they admire Steve Jobs for his resilience, visionary approach, and ability to identify opportunities and tell compelling stories. He is credited with setting benchmarks in technology not just with Apple but with NeXT and Pixar too.
His return to Apple, significantly influenced the tech industry and product design. His creativity, continuous improvement focus, and handling of political situations also garner respect from various professionals.
Jay Latta, Chief Dreamer at STINT, said: “He never gave up [and] had a unique sense for opportunities and how to tell the right story.
“Due to an intrigue fired from Apple, set another benchmark with NeXT, joined Pixar, returned to Apple and shaped all our understanding about technology.”
Aldo Petruzzelli, CEO at Omnia, named Jobs as his hero, among others
“[In the] Tech space probably someone like Steve Jobs that had more of a design mindset (the real design not the looks) than anything else, but was able to interface with engineers for product discussions,” he said.
“He doesn’t come from a CS background either which is I think what we need if we want to sell ARVR to non-ARVR people.
“And then for the way he handled certain political situations across two G7 countries like the US and Italy, Sergio Marchionne or even Adriano Olivetti for the way he treated his employees, and saw his enterprise as a way to elevate the consciousness of the people living and working in his factories.”
Elon Musk
Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk also proved popular among our All-Stars.
Rob Petrosino, Chief Innovation Officer at PeakActivity, admires Musk for being “brazen and absolute in his thoughts and commitment to success”.
Adam Pomeroy, Middle East Operations Director, at Luminous XR, meanwhile, praises Musk’s visionary approach to business and his ability to innovate across different areas.
“His visionary approach to business, ability to innovate across multiple industries, and relentless drive to achieve ambitious goals set him apart,” he said.
“Musk’s ventures have pushed the boundaries of technology and transformed sectors such as electric vehicles, space travel, and neuroscience.
“His willingness to tackle complex, high-risk challenges and his focus on sustainability and advancing human potential are particularly inspiring.”
Lair Anderson, Researcher at LAPISCO, agreed.
“As a fan of Elon Musk, I’m inspired by his relentless drive for innovation,” he said.
“Through Tesla and SpaceX, he’s transformed industries and sparked a wave of enthusiasm for the future.
“Musk’s bold vision, willingness to take risks, and commitment to sustainability make him a true hero in my eyes.”
Relatives
Several All-Stars find inspiration in their close family members, attributing their professional success and values to the examples set by their parents or partners.
These influential figures are admired for their dedication, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit.
They have not only built successful careers and businesses but have also demonstrated qualities like hard work, innovation, professionalism, and a deep commitment to supporting others.
Miranda Palmisano, CEO at MadXR, picked her father as her business hero
“My business hero is undoubtedly my dad,” she said. “Starting his company, EMDAT, in the 90s at my current age, he navigated it through the tumultuous waters of the business world to become a multi-million dollar entity, eventually catching the eye of Nuance in 2013.
“Growing up, I witnessed the hard work and dedication of both my parents, but it was only later in life that I fully grasped the magnitude of their struggles and achievements. His entrepreneurial spirit didn’t stop with EMDAT; it ventured into diverse investments, including the innovative integration of VR technology in escape rooms.
“His journey inspires me not just because of his successes, but because of the resilience, innovation, and passion he embodies. These qualities resonate deeply with me as I navigate my own path in the XR industry.”
Other All-Stars also chose their parents:
- Radhika Mukhija, Co-Founder of Higher Prana Virtual Reality, said: “My Father, he has been a Senior Executive and Member of Board at Larsen and Toubro (An Indian multinational engaged in EPC Projects, Hi-Tech Manufacturing and Services. It operates in over 50 countries worldwide).
“The reason being, I witnessed his strong work ethic, professionalism, honesty, discipline and hard work that led him to be at the helm of the company. I’ve been inspired by his values of gratitude, servant leadership and supporting his team and peers in their growth.”
- Tim van Dam, General Manager at Changefied, said: “My dad, as he always told me ‘Keep your head in the game’, which became my life motto.”
- Sören Syrbe, COO of Wonderland, said: “She owns a pharmacy in a small town in Germany.
“She has worked 6 days a week for as long as I can remember and raised me and my sister on the side. She hasn’t complained once, but has always pulled through.”
- Matthew Chaussee, CEO & Co-Founder, CareerViewXR chose his wife, with whom he cofounded the company.
“My business hero would have to be my wife (and our majority owner), Katie,” she said.
“We met our sophomore year of college in a freshman speech class. We’d both been avoiding it because we were terrified of public speaking. A couple months after she founded the business, she asked me if I would be the CEO, which meant that I got to do all the fun flashy, showmanship stuff, (which I’ve actually come to love) and she would get to be more behind the scenes.
“The reason I say she is my business hero is because she convinced me we should take a chance on this venture 8 years ago… investing most of our savings into some image capture equipment, a website, and an idea.
“I was perfectly happy with my job in higher education but her gut instinct on big decisions is never wrong and I’m glad she identified this path we could head down together.”
Best of the Rest
- John Blackmon, CTO, ELB Learning, said: “My business hero is Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft. His leadership has been transformative, guiding Microsoft through a significant cultural and technological shift towards cloud computing and artificial intelligence. I admire his emphasis on empathy, inclusivity, and a growth mindset, which are essential values in today’s rapidly evolving tech industry. Nadella’s ability to foster innovation and adaptability within such a large organization is truly inspiring, and his approach aligns with the vision I have for our company, one that thrives on continuous learning and embraces change to drive technological advancement.”
- Damon Shackelford, XR Mischief Maker, said: “Marcus Aurelius, former emperor of Rome. Because good business requires good leadership, and he is famous for his excellent leadership of the empire. My favorite quote from Marcus, ‘It is the responsibility of leadership to work intelligently with what is given…’ so important to remember in business.”
- Rodrigo Mulinário Ramos, Product Owner, FITec, said: “Alex Kipman. Aside from being Brazilian (like me), he garnered global recognition and prominence as the mastermind behind successful devices like the Kinect and Hololens. He was also named one of the 100 most influential people globally, among other accolades and acknowledgments for his accomplishments, which adds to the pride of the Brazilian community working in XR.”
- Cory Grenier, CEO & Co-Founder, GEENEE, said: “David Packard. In addition to making garages cool for bootstrapped startups, he was an engineer, an innovator, civil servant, philanthropist and CEO who founded a built to last company and HP Way culture that respected people, encouraged teamwork achievement and innovation, and shaped Silicon Valley and beyond.”
- Alex Berlin, Founder & President, Arvizio Inc., said: “Michael Dell. He founded the company at the age of 19 and built it to become one of the largest and most successful IT companies in the world. Michael is known for his revolutionary vision of how IT technology should be designed, manufactured, and sold.”
- Matt Tullis, VP of XR, Ultraleap, said: “Tough one but I think my business hero is probably Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia. I think he is someone who has been able to create great products, build a phenomenal brand, keep employees happy, be environmentally friendly and have an impact on the world beyond profits.”
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