Operators
An Operator Leader is action-oriented and results-driven, excelling at execution, efficiency, and delivering consistent outcomes through hands-on management.
Tim Cook – CEO of Apple
Operator Trait
Cook brought supply chain mastery and operational discipline to Apple, transforming it into the world’s most efficient and valuable company.
Why Operator
He excels at scaling global logistics, optimizing performance, and executing at precision levels that define Apple’s consistency.
WSJ | All Things: Tim Cook as Apple CEO: A Tested and Steady Hand
Sheryl Sandberg – Former COO of Meta
Operator Trait
Sandberg systematized Meta’s monetization strategy, building a scalable advertising business that turned Facebook into a revenue powerhouse.
Why Operator
She focused on operations, revenue models, and internal alignment to deliver rapid and measurable business outcomes.
Gwynne Shotwell – President and COO of SpaceX
Operator Trait
Shotwell is the execution engine behind SpaceX—converting big vision into commercial delivery through tactical leadership.
Why Operator
She manages contracts, launches, and people with unmatched precision, keeping timelines tight and quality high.
Andy Jassy – CEO of Amazon
Operator Trait
Jassy built Amazon Web Services into a dominant force by meticulously building infrastructure, teams, and go-to-market operations.
Why Operator
He’s a builder and optimizer—known for process rigor, service delivery, and detailed execution at enterprise scale.
CNBC: Amazon CEO: Here’s what you need to do ‘if you want to earn trust’
Doug McMillon – CEO of Walmart
Operator Trait
McMillon rose through Walmart by refining execution on the ground—managing logistics, retail operations, and workforce strategies.
Why Operator
He focuses on operational agility, blending efficiency with modernization across Walmart’s massive infrastructure.
Standford Business: How Doug McMillon Keeps Walmart Moving Forward,/em>
Safra Catz – CEO of Oracle
Operator Trait
Catz has long been Oracle’s financial and operational powerhouse, managing profitability through cost control and disciplined M&A.
Why Operator
She brings strict operational focus, scaling Oracle with performance-based management and strategic rigor.
Femaleswitch: Top 10 PROVEN Tips from Safra Catz, CEO of Oracle, to OPTIMIZE Leadership in 2025
Marillyn Hewson – Former CEO of Lockheed Martin
Operator Trait
Hewson led one of the most complex engineering and defense firms in the world, keeping Lockheed Martin on budget and ahead of schedule.
Why Operator
She mastered program delivery, operational excellence, and risk mitigation in a high-stakes, high-regulation environment.
Brian Cornell – CEO of Target
Operator Trait
Cornell revitalized Target by overhauling supply chains, rethinking store formats, and optimizing digital logistics.
Why Operator
He delivers results by tightening execution across every retail touchpoint—inventory, pricing, staffing, and design.
How Leaders Lead Series: Manage Your Energy for Peak Performance
Processor
Detail-driven, methodical, systems thinker
Synergist
Unifier, team-oriented, emotionally intelligent
Visionary
Future-oriented, bold, creative disruptor