Mike Gregoire Interviewed by East Bay Business Times' Publisher
January 4, 2008
A Conversation with Taleo Corporation Chief Executive Michael Gregoire
First job: I worked in the tourism business in Niagara Falls, mostly greeting guests at an observation tower.
Business philosophy: A combination of innovation and execution.
How do you stay motivated: I'm very goal oriented.
Guiding principle: Do the right thing. You have to be comfortable with everything you do.
Definition of success: Living a balanced life.
Goal yet to be achieved: Use what I've learned in the business world and apply it in some community service.
Best decision: Getting married. When I'm talking to sales guys I always like meeting their wives, because if they can't get that transaction closed, they usually can't sell software too well.
Worst decision: Staying in a job for too long that I wasn't interested in. I stayed because I had an immature view of what it meant to be successful.
Definition of leadership: Mean what you say, say what you mean.
Biggest missed opportunity: I could have been the CEO of a company in Oxford, England, and I chose to come to Taleo instead. I don't know if it's a missed opportunity but it would have been yet another adventure that I never took.
Word that best describes you: Decisive.
Like best about job: Working with our people, building the team.
Like least about job: The inflexibility of my schedule. I know what I'm going to be doing the second Tuesday in February.
Interests: Cycling and skiing.
Pet peeve: Being late.
Most important lesson learned: Business is a collaborative sport.
Person most interested in meeting: Aristotle. He was one of the pioneers of the thought that an equal amount of time should be spent with family, friends, work, pursuing something of value - the whole idea of living a well balanced, well thought-out life.
Most respected competitor: Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle. I didn't have an appreciation for him until I became a CEO. You can't argue with his success. He has built a very substantial company and launched a lot of leaders as well.
Greatest strength: The ability to get things done.
Characteristic most admired: Self-awareness. I'm always shocked at how few people really understand what they can do and understand what they want to do. When you meet somebody who knows what they can do and likes what they're doing, they are the most engaging people.
First choice for a new career: Talk-show host.
Favorite quote: "I believe that a man's greatest hour - in fact, his greatest fulfillment, his finest fulfillment - is that moment when he has worked his heart out for a good cause and lies exhausted but victorious on the field of battle." - Vince Lombardi
How do you deal with disappointment: It's a weakness. I get unbelievably self-critical.
How do you deal with stress: Physical exercise and spending time with my family.
Exercise of choice: Swimming, biking or running. I do three or four triathlons a year.
Question you want answered: With all the resources and intellect on this planet, why do we see so much suffering?
Most cherished possession: Time. It's the scarcest resource in my life.
Life's most beautiful sound: Laughter.
Name: Michael Gregoire
Company: Taleo Corp., the Dublin maker of enterprise and talent management software
Title: CEO
Years with company: 3
Career: Executive vice president of enterprise software at PeopleSoft, responsible for its global services business. Executive director of EDS New York Information Solutions Organization based in New York. Named one of Consulting Magazine's top 25 most influential consultants.
Education: B.S., physics, Wilfred Laurier University, Ontario, Canada; M.B.A., California Coast University
Residence: Alamo
Family: Wife Holly, son Brendan, daughter Jordyn