Making the right global connections

By Meng Jing (China Daily) Updated: 2014-10-17 11:18

Q&A/Jeff Weiner

How do you spend your weekends?

During weekends, I like to relax and spend time with family and friends.

What is your favorite book?

My favorite book is Conscious Business: How to Build Value Through Values written by Fred Kofman. Another book that I have enjoyed reading is Mountains beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder.

What do you value most in business partners?

I always look for partners who have mutually aligned and long-term objectives.

What is the biggest asset of LinkedIn?

Earlier I used to say it was "the scale of network". However, now I would say it is the culture and values that we stand for. It has been our single biggest advantage and something that served us well, especially in global expansion.

Who are your idols in the business world?

Raymond G Chambers is someone who has been a great influence in my life. He currently serves as the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Financing the Health Millennium Development.

How often do you come to China?

I have been coming here every year and will probably make even more trips in the future.

What's your secret to break the ice with Chinese businessmen?

There are no specific icebreakers as such. I believe that the best approach is to get to know people and try to understand how one can be of value and service to them.

You have been recognized as the leading CEO in the US for this year by a recent Glassdoor survey. What has been the secret of your success?

Ultimately, it is all about managing your company in a compassionate manner. To achieve this, I often put myself in the shoes of the people I work with and then base my decisions accordingly.

It is important to understand things from their perspective, to understand their strengths, understand their areas for improvement, understand their hopes and dreams, things they are all anxious about.

I do not want to project the way I see the world onto others.