Our business is about technology, operations and customer relationships...
Michael Saun Dell is an American business entrepreneur, investor and
philanthropist who is the founder and CEO of Dell Inc. Dell is one of
the leading market players in manufacture of Personal Computers (PC’s).
Mike was ranked as the 41st richest man in the world on 2012 Forbes list
of billionaires, with a total net worth of US $ 22.4 billion, as of
December 2014.
He was into doing odd jobs like making a calculator, assembling
electronic chips and circuits and lot many other things, at an early age
of 10 or 11. It was in the year 1984 that he started Dell Inc. He
discovered that there was a tremendous market for manufacturing of PC’s
over the conventional form of computers. Dell was thus registered under
the name ‘PC’s Limited’. This was during the initial stages, while the
computer biggie had just started off. It was operating with a small
cubicle cum condominium, while the business was mainly engaged in
selling upgraded PC’s, kits and add-on components. The turnover was so
great, in the initial year of having kick started the business, and the
firm was able to make $50,000 to $80,000. It was in May 1984, Michael S
Dell, incorporated his firm as ‘Dell Computer Corporation’. The business
re-located to another set up in North Austin.
The company employed few more staff and was working on few more
orders. During the initial days of having started the PC biggie, the
manufacturing staff merely comprised of three guys with screw drivers
working on six foot tables.
This is the brief stint on how a firm which barely upgraded
electronic components and kits went on to manufacture PC’s. Today it is
the number one PC manufacturing firm across US.
Early days and Education
Michael S Dell was born on the 23rd of February 1965 in Houston,
Texas, United States of America. He was born in the Jewish family and
family had immigrated to the United States of America, back then. He is
the son of Lorraine Charlotte who is a stock broker and Alexander Dell
who is an orthodontist. As a kid, Mike was too eager to enter the
business world. This quest led him to taking up the high school
equivalency exam, while he was just 8 years old. He invested his
earnings from part-time jobs in stocks and semi-precious metals.
He was a drop-out from the University of Texas at Austin.
Career Spark
Mike S Dell has worked with some well known organisations and is a
part of a number of Boards. He is the Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Dell ventures. He is also the President and Director of The
Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. He also happens to be the Member of
Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum. Being an Executive
Director of Denali Holding Inc.., he has worked as the Chairman of many
companies and also served as the Director of Catalyst Inc. He also
serves as the Director of Start-up America Partnership, LLC.
His journey with Dell Inc.
Mike S Dell was appointed as the CEO of Dell Inc. in the year 1992.
He was 27 years old, at that point of time. From there on, there has
absolutely been no looking back. He was ranked as one of the top 100
CEO’s in Fortune Magazine and has bagged quite a lot of awards as put up
on the ‘Rewards and Recognition’ section. Under the iconic persona’s
leadership and guidance, Dell started selling computers over the web.
This was during the year 1996. The company has launched its first set of
servers during the very same year.
Selling computers over the web eventually turned out to be quite a
profitable affair. Dell Inc. reported a cool sales turnover of $1
million just selling computers and PC’s via dell dot com.
In the first quarter of 2001, Dell Inc. surpassed the market share of
yet another competent PC manufacturing biggie named Compaq and went on
to become the world’s largest PC maker. The company started shipping out
notebooks, lap tops, desktops and servers, capturing a market share of a
whopping 34.3% worldwide and 30.7 % across US alone, while the sales of
other PC firms were shrinking.
In the year 1998, Dell founded another sister company namely MSD
Capital LP. This firm was mainly started to manage his family based
investments. These included publicly traded securities, private equity
and real estate. Of course, there remains the fact that Dell himself was
not involved in the day to day operations of MSD capital Inc. The firm
has employed 80 people to take care of the concern and has offices
across New York, Santa Monica and London.
On the 4th of March 2004, Dell stepped down from the position of CEO.
He however continued to remain on the company’s board. Kevin Rollins
became the CEO of the firm. Kevin was apparently the President and COO
at that point of time. It was in the year 2007 that Dell once again
became the CEO of Dell Inc. as the Board of Directors, requested him to
take up the coveted post, all at once. He continues to be the CEO of
Dell Inc.
This describes the journey of the business magnate with Dell Inc.
These are the affiliations, Dell is involved in
a) He serves on the foundation of World Economic Forum.
b) Mr Dell is on the executive committee of International Business Council as well as the US Business Council.
c) He is among the governing board of the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad.
His personal interests and family life
Mike is a renowned writer, as well. Dell wrote his first book which
was published in the year 1999. The book is named ‘Direct from Dell:
Strategies that revolutionized the industry’. The book typically
comprises of his early life, how he founded the company, growth and
missteps and the lessons learned. He collaborated with Catherine Fredman
and the book was thus published.
He married Susan L Lieberman in the year 1989 in Austin, Texas. The couple resides there along with their four daughters.
The couple also focuses on philanthropic activities, which are being
undertaken in the name of Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. It focuses
on socio-economic causes along with providing urban education, childhood
health and family economic stability.
The American businessman, magnate, CEO and the philanthropist has a
long way to go. We wish him good luck in all his future endeavours, as
well.
Rewards and Recognition |
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Michael
S Dell received his first award at the age of the 24 as the youngest
‘Entrepreneur of the year’ and the trophy was given away by Inc.
Magazine. |
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Worth Magazine conferred the award namely ‘Top CEO in American Business’. |
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Mike received ‘CEO of the year Award’ from three magazines, viz. Chief Executive, and Industry Week and Financial world. |
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During the year 2013, Dell also received the award for Business Leadership from Franklin Institute. |
Professional Affiliations |
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Dell Ventures |
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MSD Capital, L.P. |
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Dell SecureWorks, Inc. |
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The University of Texas System |
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The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation |
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Compellent Technologies, Inc. |
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Dell (China) Company Limited |
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World Economic Forum |
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Indian School of Business |
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Catalyst Inc. |
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SkyBridge Capital II, LLC |
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Dell Corporation Limited |
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Start-up America Partnership, LLC |
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MSDC Management, L.P. |
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Denali Holding Inc. |
Quotes |
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Twenty years and $40 billion. They seem like good round numbers.. |
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There
are a lot of things that go into creating success. I don't like to do
just the things I like to do. I like to do things that cause the
company to succeed. I don't spend a lot of time doing my favourite
activities. |
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Our business is about technology, yes. But it's also about operations and customer relationships. |
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People
ask me all the time, 'How can I become a successful entrepreneur?' And
I have to be honest: It's one of my least favourite questions, because
if you're waiting for someone else's advice to become an entrepreneur,
chances are you're not one. |
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The
interesting thing is when we design and architect a server, we don't
design it for Windows or Linux, and we design it for both. We don't
really care, as long as we're selling the one the customer wants. |
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Real
entrepreneurs have what I call the three Ps (and, trust me, none of
them stands for 'permission'). Real entrepreneurs have a 'passion' for
what they're doing, a 'problem' that needs to be solved, and a
'purpose' that drives them forward. |
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If
you think about computing, there isn't just one way to compute, just
like there's not just one way to move around. You can have shoes, you
can have a car, you can have a bicycle, submarine, rocket, plane,
train, and glider, whatever. Because you have one doesn't mean you get
rid of another one... But PCs continue to be important. |
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You
don't have to be a genius or a visionary or even a college graduate to
be successful. You just need a framework and a dream. |