From the Top and On Fire

New Zealander Victoria Ransom is chief executive of Wildfire, a provider of social media marketing software, which was acquired by Google last year. In an interview with Adam Bryant of The New York Times, Ransom talks about the leadership lessons she has learnt since the company began. “I don’t believe in hierarchy or creating hierarchy,” Ransom said. “I believe in earning respect. Another lesson I’ve learned as the company grows is that you’re only as good as the leaders you have underneath you. Therefore, a big part of leading becomes your ability to pick and guide the right people.” In 2012, President Obama invited Ransom to Washington to represent Silicon Valley at the signing of the JOBS act in the White House Rose Garden. Ransom has an MBA from Harvard Business School.