Part 6/9:
Elon Musk’s Leadership and Company Management
Rubenstein discusses the importance of clear leadership within Tesla, emphasizing that shareholders benefit from knowing who is responsible for daily operations—i.e., the COO or a trusted second-in-command—especially when Elon Musk is preoccupied with Twitter and SpaceX. He mentions potential candidates like Tom Zuo, who has been instrumental in expanding Tesla’s manufacturing footprint but underscores the need for Musk to delegate effectively.
He admires Musk’s proven ability to run multiple companies, noting that his decades of experience have built a capable team around him. Rubenstein emphasizes that Elon’s ongoing challenge is balancing these responsibilities without compromising performance.