“The path to the CEO’s office should not be through the CFO’s office, and it should not be through the marketing department. It needs to be through engineering and design.” – Elon Musk

What makes engineers and product designers better suited for the CEO’s office? When Elon Musk made this statement, he wasn’t trying to disrespect the finance or marketing department. Instead, he was saying that the strongest companies are led by people who deeply understand the product, how it’s built and how people will use it. 

But when the person at the top doesn’t have a deep understanding of these things from product, innovation, and design, the company risks losing its core identity, which is why some companies go into bankruptcy, abrupt closing of business, customers losing interest and many more.

A report by Harvard Business Review points out that CEOs with technical backgrounds are often better equipped to drive long-term innovation because they understand the “how” behind the products, not just the “how much.”

But what does this mean? This blog post will give you a comprehensive understanding of this.

1. What’s Wrong With the CFO Route?

The CFO (Chief Financial Officer) is the money manager of a company. Their job is to balance the books, control costs, and ensure the company remains financially healthy.

That’s vital, but if a CEO only thinks like a CFO, they may focus too much on cutting expenses instead of creating new opportunities.

See how Nokia, which once dominated the phone market, but focused more on profits than innovation. Apple, meanwhile, poured money into design and user experience, and we all know how that turned out.

2. What’s Wrong With the Marketing Route?

The marketing department is about branding, advertising, and sales. Great marketing can make a product popular, but if the product itself is weak, it won’t last long.

The BlackBerry had strong branding and was loved by business users, but it failed to keep up with new designs and software. Meanwhile, Samsung and Apple invested in better hardware and design, which made them leaders in smartphones.

3. Why Engineering Matters

Engineering is about how things actually work, the technology, the systems, the core product. When CEOs come from engineering backgrounds, they understand what’s possible and how to push boundaries.

Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, is an engineer. His deep understanding of cloud technology helped transform Microsoft into a leader in AI and cloud computing.

Additionally, Mark Zuckerberg, a programmer, built Facebook from scratch, and his engineering mindset played a crucial role in scaling the platform to billions of users.

4. Why Design Matters

Design is about how people experience the product, its look, feel, and usability. Design-led CEOs think beyond just making something that works; they make something people love and would proudly speak about.

For example, Brian Chesky, co-founder of Airbnb, came from a design background. His focus on user experience turned a simple idea, renting out homes, into a global brand.

One might then question,                                             

So, businesses don’t need the Finance and Marketing aspects? 

The Balance is the solution: They All Matter

Of course, finance and marketing are still vital. You can’t ignore money or marketing expertise. But when the CEO understand the products from both overall and inner sides, which entails “ engineering and design” because it answers “how we build this product and how our customers will use it”. Then finance and marketing follow to support that vision.

For instance, Tesla spends very little on advertising compared to its competitors. Instead, it puts resources into engineering (electric cars, batteries, AI) and design (sleek, futuristic vehicles). The product itself becomes the marketing.

In practice, this means building things people love and really need, not just balancing the books.

Conclusion

I am sure that now you understand what Elon Musk was trying to explain in that quote, “The path to the CEO’s office should not be through the CFO’s office, and it should not be through the marketing department. It needs to be through engineering and design.”

This is because “product-first leaders” usually lead great businesses or companies, while finance and marketing aspects help to sustain the company (the products that change industries). 

What are product-first leaders in business?

Screenshot from Userpilot blog. 

So, whether you’re a young entrepreneur or dreaming of becoming a CEO one day, remember:

  • Build something that works.
  • Design something people love.
  • Let finance and marketing support your vision, not necessarily defining it.

To you, my dear reader, what are your thoughts on the statement made by Elon Musk? Do you believe that the path to the CEO’s office should be through engineering and design, or could it also come from roles in finance, marketing, or as a CFO? I look forward to seeing your opinions in the comments below.

You can also go through this interesting write-up on Should You Continue a Business That Isn’t Working? Hard Truths, Signs, and Tips.