Adventurous CEOs make great innovators

According to a study performed in part by Desautels Assistant Professor of Accounting Jingjing Zhang, when it comes to chasing innovation, companies with risk-loving CEOs tend to pursue more original projects and “generate more patents with greater market impact than their peers.” This is because thrill-seeking personalities tend to be more open to new ideas, which translates well into the business space.

The study looked at 88 CEOs who like to fly small aircraft, and compared them to 1,123 CEOs who don’t fly, over the course of 10 years. The upshot? Pilot CEOs equalled a 66.7% increase in patents.

Read full article: Wall Street Journal, University Chronicle, Marginalia, C-Suite, Small Business, Growth Business, Cash Questions, Straight out the Gate, PA Life, Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation, February 27, 2017