Asml Boss says that young people always ask him how to be CEO. That’s why he calls it a ‘ridiculous’ question
Typical CEO spends his time by participating in meetings, hitting the questions about how to reach his location in case of a strategy and strategy and semiconductor giant asml boss.
This is an understandable query. Christophe Fouquet, CEO of the Fortune 500 European Lithography group, is responsible for one of the most strategically important companies in the world. Last year, the payment package of € 3.5 million ($ 3.6 million) and the accumulated stock options do not appeal to jealousy.
However, by talking to Norges Bank Investment Management CEO Nicolai Tangen In a good company Podcast, Fouquet, the problem is a consistent deficiency among ambitious young people, he said.
“I see too many young people who come to see me and they want to be CEO and said to me, ‘How do we be CEO?’ They ask them to explain to them that it is almost ridiculous. ”
“This is not the right question. The right question is what I’m going to do tomorrow, really exciting me, really reveals the best of me?
“Because if you go and do this every day, you may have a chance to be a CEO – you may not have a greater chance – but you will also do something that brings you joy, energy and most importantly bringing it to the people around you.”
Fouquet says that he never received ambitions for C-Suite in his early years. He argues that this should be more important to do something you adopt a career-oriented approach that young people should reach out to the issues they choose to work at the university.
ASML CEO says that this approach to career development can help move to two sections focusing on gaining impact before learning how to use it.
“I think the first part of your career is about proving yourself, I really believe, F Fou Fouquet said that this part of his life has noticed that more than ten years ago he has undertaken the responsibility of a product unit in ASML.
“And then you look forward to it, okay, what’s next… What can I do to help and where is the place where I can do something important?”
Fouquet’s role changed during his time in ASML. The group is worth 230 billion dollars and more in size than joining the company in 2008.
The stocks in the group have a balloon following Covid-19 pandemi during the demand for technology shares and again during the AI explosion.
The company supplies lithography machines to the largest companies in the world, including Nvidia, which allows the production of advanced semiconductors used in AI applications.
As an important part of the global supply chain, the role of Foquest is likely to gain importance.
Editor’s Note: First a version of this article He took part in Fortune.com on February 12, 2025.
This story initially took part in Fortune.com
