• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechTech-Cetera

Which CEOs (Past and Present) Would You Most Want to Meet?

By
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Tom Huddleston Jr.
,
Fortune Video
Fortune Video
and
Sara Haralson
Sara Haralson
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Tom Huddleston Jr.
,
Fortune Video
Fortune Video
and
Sara Haralson
Sara Haralson
Down Arrow Button Icon
June 2, 2017, 12:23 PM ET

Who are the business leaders of past and present whose careers most inspire you?

In the latest episode of Fortune’s Tech-Cetera series, we asked several top executives which CEOs, living or dead, they would most want to have dinner with if given the opportunity. Not surprisingly, the most popular answer among this group of executives was Apple co-founder and tech visionary Steve Jobs, who passed away in 2011.

“Steve Jobs, by far,” said Gadi Amit, the president and founder of tech design firm NewDealDesign.

R.J. Pittman, the chief product officer for online marketplace eBay, noted that he actually already dined with Jobs roughly 25 years ago. But Pittman said he’d still opt to eat with the “Think different” pioneer.

“I had a great dinner with Steve Jobs back in 1992,” Pittman said. “If I could do that all over again, [I would].”

Get Data Sheet, Fortune‘s technology newsletter.

In a similar vein, several other executives chose current Apple CEO Tim Cook, who worked with Jobs and took over the company six years ago. Some of the reasons for leaders choosing Cook included the fact that the Apple leader has spoken out about the need for increased diversity in Silicon Valley, as well as the challenges Cook has faced in taking over a company from such an iconic and revered leader as Jobs.

“It’s very interesting to own ideas and to shape a company that you didn’t invent,” J.P. Morgan vice president Noah Wintroub said.

Other famous business titans who received mentions included Andrew Carnegie, the steel tycoon who championed philanthropy by giving away much of his fortune, and Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.

“It would be hard to turn down someone who is thinking about travel to other planets,” Chris Curtin, Visa’s chief brand and innovation marketing officer, said of Musk.

About the Authors
By Tom Huddleston Jr.
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
By Fortune Video
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
By Sara Haralson
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Apple CEO Tim Cook wearing a white polo shirt and throwing up a peace sign
Big TechApple
Apple won’t be the same in 2026. Meet the company’s next generation of leaders and rising stars after its biggest executive exodus in years
By Dave SmithDecember 8, 2025
43 minutes ago
Successphilanthropy
Craigslist founder signs the Giving Pledge, and his fortune will go to military families, fighting cyberattacks—and a pigeon rescue
By Sydney LakeDecember 8, 2025
2 hours ago
Streaming
Big TechStreaming
Netflix-Warner deal would drive streaming market further down the road of ‘Big 3’ domination
By David R. King and The ConversationDecember 8, 2025
2 hours ago
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang
SuccessCareers
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says people need to find success in traditional factory jobs again: ‘Every successful person doesn’t need to have a PhD’
By Emma BurleighDecember 8, 2025
2 hours ago
Paramount
Big TechM&A
Next shoe in Netflix-WBD saga drops as Paramount launches hostile bid that includes Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner
By Nick LichtenbergDecember 8, 2025
3 hours ago
Google.org
CommentaryTech
Nonprofits are solving 21st century problems—they need 21st century tech
By Maggie Johnson and Shannon FarleyDecember 8, 2025
4 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Real Estate
The 'Great Housing Reset' is coming: Income growth will outpace home-price growth in 2026, Redfin forecasts
By Nino PaoliDecember 6, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Politics
Supreme Court to reconsider a 90-year-old unanimous ruling that limits presidential power on removing heads of independent agencies
By Mark Sherman and The Associated PressDecember 7, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
AI
Nvidia CEO says data centers take about 3 years to construct in the U.S., while in China 'they can build a hospital in a weekend'
By Nino PaoliDecember 6, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
The most likely solution to the U.S. debt crisis is severe austerity triggered by a fiscal calamity, former White House economic adviser says
By Jason MaDecember 6, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Uncategorized
Transforming customer support through intelligent AI operations
By Lauren ChomiukNovember 26, 2025
12 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon says Europe has a 'real problem’
By Katherine Chiglinsky and BloombergDecember 6, 2025
2 days ago
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.